Armed Forces chief bids troops farewell

MANILA, Philippines -  Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David Jr. bade farewell yesterday to the major services and thanked them for supporting his eight-month stint.

David, who will retire on March 8, first visited the Navy headquarters along Roxas Boulevard in Manila, followed by the Air Force at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Makati.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said David discussed with the troops the new security plan “Bayanihan,” which aims to address rebellion through development programs.

“He (David) thanked the three major services for supporting him and then he talked about the legacy that he thinks he will bring with him, which is the memory of being able to lead and manage a big (organization) such as the Armed Forces,” he said.

“He also talked about Bayanihan, which at this time is unprecedented. It’s a paradigm shift and apparently no one can question (its goal of) winning the peace.”

Bayanihan took effect last Jan. 1 and will be in force until 2016.

Mabanta said David also touched on the corruption allegations being faced by former ranking officials of the military.

“Regarding the exposé (on corruption), he (David) viewed it as an opportunity to be able to inform Congress and the people about the problems we are facing and also opens up (opportunities) to come up with laws,” he said. 

Mabanta said David will visit the Army’s 4th Division in Cagayan de Oro and the 1st Division in Zamboanga del Sur today.

Before visiting the major services, David graced the 25th anniversary of the Presidential Security Group in Malacañang, he added.

Testimonial dinner

A testimonial dinner was held in honor of David last Monday at the Daza Park in Camp Aguinaldo. The event was hosted by the

office of AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu.

In his remarks, David said he is willing to assist the military even after he hangs up his uniform.

“While I may no longer be in active service, I give you my assurances that I am open to mentoring and giving of service or assistance should the armed forces knock on my door and ask for them,” he said.

“I may no longer don my uniform after my retirement but in my heart, I will always be a soldier.” 

David said reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 would not prevent him from serving the country.

“I do not see aging as a constraint to be of service to our people and organization, through other means,” he said.

David also made his farewell call on members of the Defense Press Corps last Monday.

He encouraged them to continue serving as watchdogs of the government.

“My sleepless nights are caused by the articles of the media,” he said.

“I feel the most intense pressure every time I read the newspaper. Most of the write-ups are not positive.”

However, David said he has no regrets dealing with the media. “Whether the write-ups are right or wrong, you should find out. It is good that you (media) are the guardians of the nation,” he said.

The negative media reports should challenge military officers to disprove the allegations against them, David said.

2 C-130s to be delivered

Two C-130 military cargo planes are due for commissioning this year to boost the Air Force’s airlift capability.

David said that one of the secondhand C-130s is currently undergoing repairs and refurbishments in an aircraft facility in the Mojave desert in California.

The other is now undergoing recovery at Clark Field, he added.

David said the Air Forces expects the C-130s to be delivered between April and July this year. “We are improving the (airlift) capability of the AFP,” he said.

David said it’s a lot cheaper acquiring the two C-130s than buying brand-new ones.

At present, the Air Force has only a single C-130 in operations after another plane plunged into Davao Gulf in 2008.

The Hercules aircraft is now on standby at Villamor Air Base for possible evacuation operation of stranded Filipino workers in Libya.

Aside from the delivery of two C-130 aircraft, the Air Force is also expecting delivery early next year of another secondhand C-130 now undergoing repairs in Malaysia.

Formerly owned by the Tunisian Air Force, the C-130 cargo plane figured in a “runway excursion” years ago.

The plane was recovered and subsequently sold by a US-based defense contractor to the Department of National Defense for P1.7 billion.