Air Force has new chief

By Ronron
January 3, 2008

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will have a new chief starting Friday in the person of Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, the incumbent Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Cadungog, 54, will assume the top PAF post in simple rites at 3pm today at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City following the decision of outgoing PAF commanding general Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino to avail of early retirement.

He will be the 30th PAF commanding general.

Tolentino will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 7 but has opted to retire early “to give the President time to choose my successor.”

“The Chief of Staff gave me the information that Gen. Pedrito Cadungog… will be taking over the helm of the Philippine Air Force tomorrow at 3pm vice Gen. Tolentino,” AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told Camp Aguinaldo reporters yesterday.

“Gen. Cadungog is of course a credible officer. And he has served the Air Force well, so I think, he is very much qualified just like the rest (of the contenders),” Bacarro added.

Cadungog belongs to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1975. He will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on January 11, 2009.

Tolentino, on the other hand, is a member of PMA Class of 1974, where AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. also belongs.

In a phone interview, Tolentino told Manila Shimbun that he just intends to rest after his retirement and spend time with his family at home.

“I will just stay a while at home with my family because for a long time, we have not been together always,” Tolentino said.

For his part, Cadungog said he will just “continue the projects that are in the pipeline” such as “doctrines development, increasing the proficiency of pilots, acquisition of more equipment, and maintenance of existing equipment.”

Among the items to be purchased that he mentioned are six night-capable choppers, six light utility helicopters, and 10 refurbished Hueys.

“You really can’t do much in a year’s time except to continue the program,” Cadungog told Defense reporters in a phone interview.

At the same time, he warned all airmen to be good examples to ordinary people.

“I will not be forgiving to those who will abuse their authority. I will not tolerate (any form of) immorality like womanizing, gambling especially in Casinos and cockfighting arenas,” Cadungog said.

To preside over the change of command and retirement ceremonies today will be Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr./DMS