Villamor Air Base, Pasay City
December 20, 2022
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lauded the Philippine Air Force (PAF) soldiers and civilian employees for their efforts in “guarding the Philippine aerial domain, for assisting the delivery of basic services to Filipinos, in close collaboration with other government agencies and even private stakeholders” as he led the Philippine Air Force Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony for Lieutenant General Connor Anthony Canlas Sr., PAF Commanding General, at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
The Commander in Chief officially handed over the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) aerial military service branch to Major General Stephen P. Parreño, the 39th PAF Commanding General, as Lt. Gen. Canlas Sr. retires from 37 years of military service.
In his keynote speech, President Marcos Jr. expressed his hope that under MGen. Parreño’s leadership, the PAF will “sustain its ongoing initiatives and achieve new heights in responsive service-delivery for the country and for the people.”
Likewise, he conferred the award of Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of ‘Commander’ to Lt. Gen. Canlas Sr. in recognition of his “outstanding service that has benefitted the Republic, particularly in the preservation of the honor of the country and in nation building”, as well as witnessed his oath-taking ceremony as part of the AFP Reserve Force under 1st Air Force Wing Reserve.
“The country saw a Philippine Air Force that is credible and responsive, made possible through intensive modernization efforts; improvement of our integrated air defense system; regular conduct of aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions; conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response; and the launching of Flight Plan 2040,” President Marcos Jr. addressed the newly retired Commanding General.
MGen. Parreño, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 and PAF Flying School Class ’93 (Alpha), is the first PAF Commanding General to be appointed by President Marcos Jr.
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