Fernando Air Base, Lipa City, Batangas
25 April 2014
President Benigno S. Aquino III presided over the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) Change of Command and the Retirement Ceremony for the outgoing PAF Commanding General held for the very first time at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, province of Batangas.
In his keynote address, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) paid tribute to Lieutenant General Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz for spearheading the PAF’s aspiration towards modernization and transformation in the past two years, saying that the Air Force had acquired more mission-essential air assets and other equipment alongside the innovations and initiatives, including the professionalization of the entire PAF’s manpower.
“Mula sa gulo sa Zamboanga, lindol sa Cebu at Bohol, hanggang sa pananalanta ng bagyong Yolanda sa Kabisayaan, nasaksihan ng mundo ang inyong pambihirang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi kayo nagpasindak sa karahasan, hindi kayo nawalan ng loob sa kabila ng paghahasik ng agam-agam ng iilan, at hindi kayo umatras sa naka-ambang mga peligro…Malinaw po: nang nangailangan ang ating mga kababayan, walang dalawang-isip na sumuong sa disaster area ang ating mga unipormadong hanay. Hindi po kalabisang sabihin na nadala kayo ng magandang halimbawa ng inyong mga pinuno,” President Aquino said.
Succeeding the outgoing PAF Commanding General is Major General Jeffrey F. Delgado, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1982. Prior to his appointment as the 33rd Air Force chief, Major General Delgado was the AFP’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans (J5). He is a seasoned combat attack pilot and served as a senior military aide of President Aquino in the first two years of the administration. Likewise, Major General Delgado was part of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the term of President Corazon Aquino.
“Tiwala ako sa patuloy na pakikibalikat ng Hukbong Himpapawid, sa walang pagod ninyong pagbabantay sa ating teritoryo, sa buong giting ninyong pagprotekta sa ating kababayan mula sa masasamang elemento at anumang delubyo, at sa pakikihakbang ninyo upang gawing permanente ang tinatamasa nating malawakang transpormasyon sa lipunan,” President Aquino ended.
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