Air Force gets new chief

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday appointed Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz as the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, replacing Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena who retired after almost three years in the post.

Aquino, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), led the turnover ceremonies at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

De la Cruz vowed to pursue the programs to upgrade the PAF and reestablish the country’s credible air defense that has been overlooked for years.

“I will continue to strengthen our inner core values of integrity, service above self, teamwork and professionalism,” De la Cruz in his assumption speech as 32nd Air Force chief.

As the wing force of the military and the guardian of the country’s skies, De la Cruz said his command’s air capability would be strengthened to the degree that it could credibly defend the country’s territorial integrity.

“With better equipment and systems, your Philippine Air Force will be a strong guardian of the Philippines skies,” he said, apparently referring to various air assets which the PAF is slated to acquire within the year and onward.

“We will power up and push forward to have a highly disciplined Air Force, the kind that we will all be proud of. It’s the time to rise... indeed this is our time to shine. This year is the turning point of our Air Force,” he declared.

Rabena, who was supposed to retire in August, asked for early retirement. He has been Air Force chief since 2009, or during the time of former President and now detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Prior to his new post, De la Cruz served as commander of the 205th Tactical Operations Wing, deputy commander of 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing and deputy commander of the 710th Special Operations Wing.

He was also a flight instructor, training officer, management and operations officer and a pilot instructor of the PAF Flying School.

De la Cruz obtained his diploma on Arts from Massey University in New Zealand and a Master’s Degree in Management major in Public Administration from the Philippine Christian University in Manila. – Jaime Laude