Chief of the Air Force (Philippines)
| Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
 Philippine Air Force | |
| Reports to | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Appointer | President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments |
| Term length | 2 years [2] |
| Constituting instrument | Republic Act No. 11939 [2] |
| Formation | July 1, 1947 |
| Deputy |
|
The Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Air Force, the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant General. The holder of the position has operational control and is responsible for overall operations of the service, and directly reports to the Chief of Staff of the armed forces.
Powers and Responsibilities
[edit]The Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force serves as the overall head of the Philippine Army, where he/she has full operational control and command of the Air Force. Unlike its US-based counterpart, the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, the CGPAF has direct command oversight of the Air Force's activities, air operations, and administrative functions to all Air Force units, down from the Air Force's enlisted personnel, and up to the Air Force's different air wings, commands and tactical operation groups under its branch. The CGPAF directly reports all air operations, activities and functions to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and serves as the primary advisor for the Secretary of National Defense in related matters. The CGPAF's command advices can also be directed and transmitted to the President of the Philippines, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The CGPAF is also tasked for the air force's resource management, maintenance checks, and is responsible for the command's training and readiness strategies through monitoring the air force's air defense systems, radar and detection facilities, and airbase development. The CGPAF also hosts and attend a variety international collaboration programs aimed to improve and increase ties of other air forces in the region, which fosters potential partnerships in future military exercises and even joint patrol missions in the country's airspace.
The CGPAF has full strategic operations command of the air force and does these tasks through their leadership strategic thrusts, aimed at guaranteeing that the air force can respond in addressing the command's needs through the command's programs such as the Air Force's modernization programs, capability and doctrine development measures, and addressing the professional and welfare programs of the command. The CGPAF is also responsible for managing the command's research & development-related objectives aimed to promote both innovation and safety in all air force planes and is also in charge in managing humanitarian assistance operations in times of disasters or calamities.
Organization and Term Limit
[edit]The CGPAF is directly assisted by two deputies, namely the Vice Commander, Philippine Air Force, who serves as the CGPAF's direct assistant in implementing the Air Force's action plans and operations, and the Chief of Air Staff. The Vice Commander also has the power to assist the CGPAF in their absence, while the Chief of Air Staff serves as the chief of the air force's organizational staff, which supervises the air force's administrative commands, joint staff commands, and civilian offices, and assures the CGPAF that the air force's operational commands run smoothly and efficiently.
The CGPAF is directly appointed by the President of the Philippines, who also has the power to end the fixed term of the CGPAF at their pleasure, and needs the consent and approval of the Commission on Appointments for both briefing and confirmation of their post through public hearings. The CGPAF's serves under a fixed-term length that lasts two years, which serves under the provisions and rules of Republic Act No. 11939, and can only be extended and approved in times of war and national emergencies with the approval of Congress.[2]
List of Officeholders
[edit]The following are the Commanding Generals/Chiefs of the Philippine Air Force since its foundation in 1947, with some generals commanding various units from the Philippine Army Air Corps until it was replaced by the Philippine Air Force in 1947.[3]
Commanding Generals
[edit]| No. | Portrait | Commanding General (Primary Background) |
Took office | Left office | Time in office | President | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonel Pelagio A. Cruz (Attack) | 9 June 1947 | 16 March 1951 | 3 years, 280 days | Manuel Roxas Elpidio Quirino | ||
| 2 | Brigadier General Eustacio D. Orobia (Fighter) | 16 March 1951 | 2 June 1952 | 1 year, 78 days | Elpidio Quirino | ||
| 3 | Brigadier General Benito Nicano R. Ebuen (Infantry, Artillery, and Airbase Commander) | 2 June 1952 | 3 November 1953 | 1 year, 154 days | Elpidio Quirino | ||
| * | Brigadier General Pelagio A. Cruz (Attack) | 3 November 1953 | 17 December 1956 | 3 years, 44 days | Elpidio Quirino Ramon Magsaysay | ||
| * | Brigadier General Benito Nicano R. Ebuen (Infantry, Artillery, and Airbase Commander) | 17 December 1956 | 17 March 1957 | 90 days | Ramon Magsaysay | ||
| 4 | Brigadier General Pedro Q. Molina (Infantry, Bombers, and Tactical Operations) | 17 March 1957 | 17 July 1962 | 5 years, 122 days | Ramon Magsaysay Carlos P. Garcia Diosdado Macapagal | ||
| 5 | Brigadier General Jonas A. Victoria (Artillery, Airbase Commander and Tactical Operations) | 17 July 1962 | 11 June 1964 | 1 year, 330 days | Diosdado Macapagal | ||
| 6 | Brigadier General Agusto L. Jurado (Infantry, Logistics, and Tactical Operations) | 11 June 1964 | 1 June 1965 | 355 days | Diosdado Macapagal | ||
| 7 | Brigadier General Victor H. Dizon (Bombers, Training and Communications) | 1 June 1965 | 29 December 1965 | 211 days | Diosdado Macapagal | ||
| 8 | Brigadier General Jose B. Ramos (Training and Communications) | 29 December 1965 | 15 August 1967 | 1 year, 229 days | Diosdado Macapagal Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 9 | Brigadier General Emmanuel S. Casabar (Infantry, Intelligence, and Fighters) | 15 August 1967 | 27 May 1968 | 286 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 10 | Brigadier General Juan B. Guevara (Intelligence and Communications) | 27 May 1968 | 8 September 1968 | 104 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 11 | Brigadier General Jesus Z. Singson (Field Artillery and Fighters) | 8 September 1968 | 15 January 1972 | 3 years, 129 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 12 | Major General Jose L. Rancudo (Fighters) | 15 January 1972 | 27 March 1976 | 4 years, 72 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 13 | Major General Samuel O. Sarmiento (Training and Fighters) | 27 March 1976 | 1 October 1981 | 5 years, 188 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 14 | Brigadier General Petronio M. Lapeña (Training and Fighters) | 1 October 1981 | 5 April 1982 | 186 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 15 | Major General Vicente M. Piccio, Jr. (Training and Fighters) | 5 April 1982 | 25 February 1986 | 3 years, 326 days | Ferdinand Marcos | ||
| 16 | Major General Ramon J. Farolan, Jr. (Fighters and Staff) | 25 February 1986 | 8 October 1986 | 195 days | Corazon Aquino | ||
| 17 | Major General Antonio E. Sotelo (Fighters and Staff) | 8 October 1986 | 6 April 1988 | 1 year, 211 days | Corazon Aquino | ||
| 18 | Major General Jose L. De Leon, Jr. (Fighters) | 6 April 1988 | 24 February 1990 | 1 year, 324 days | Corazon Aquino | ||
| 19 | Major General Geraldo C. Protacio (Fighters and Staff) | 24 February 1990 | 19 April 1991 | 1 year, 54 days | Corazon Aquino | ||
| 20 | Lieutenant General Loven C. Abadia (Fighters and Helicopter Tactical Operations) | 19 April 1991 | 8 August 1992 | 1 year, 111 days | Corazon Aquino Fidel V. Ramos | ||
| 21 | Lieutenant General Leopoldo S. Acot (Intelligence, Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 8 August 1992 | 13 December 1993 | 1 year, 127 days | Fidel V. Ramos | ||
| 22 | Lieutenant General Nicasio P. Rodriguez, Jr. (Airlifts) | 13 December 1993 | 26 December 1995 | 2 years, 13 days | Fidel V. Ramos | ||
| 23 | Lieutenant General Arnulfo E. Acedera (Airlifts and Helicopter Tactical Operations) | 26 December 1995 | 29 November 1996 | 339 days | Fidel V. Ramos | ||
| 24 | Lieutenant General William Hotchkiss III (Fighters) | 29 November 1996 | 8 January 1999 | 2 years, 40 days | Fidel V. Ramos Joseph Estrada | ||
| 25 | Lieutenant General Willie C. Florendo (Airlifts) | 8 January 1999 | 10 October 2000 | 1 year, 276 days | Joseph Estrada | ||
| 26 | Lieutenant General Benjamin P. Defensor, Jr. (Attack, Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 10 October 2000 | 10 September 2002 | 1 year, 335 days | Joseph Estrada Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | [4] | |
| 27 | Lieutenant General Nestor R. Santillan (Intelligence, Training and Staff) | 10 September 2002 | 14 May 2004 | 1 year, 237 days | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | [5] | |
| * | Major General Arcadio L. Seron (Officer In Charge) (Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 14 May 2004 | 7 July 2004 | 64 days | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | [6] | |
| 28 | Lieutenant General Jose L. Reyes (Attack) | 7 July 2004 | 2 February 2007 | 2 years, 210 days | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | [7] | |
| 29 | Lieutenant General Horacio S. Tolentino (Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 2 February 2007 | 4 January 2008 | 336 days | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | [8] | |
| 30 | Lieutenant General Pedrito S. Cadungog (Training, Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 4 January 2008 | 9 January 2009 | 1 year, 5 days | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | [9][10] | |
| 31 | Lieutenant General Oscar H. Rabena (Attack, Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 9 January 2009 | 9 January 2012 | 3 years, 0 days | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Benigno Aquino III | [11] | |
| 32 | Lieutenant General Lauro Catalino G. Dela Cruz (Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 9 January 2012 | 30 April 2014 | 2 years, 111 days | Benigno Aquino III | [12] | |
| 33 | Lieutenant General Jeffrey F. Delgado (Attack and Staff) | 30 April 2014 | 9 March 2016 | 1 year, 314 days | Benigno Aquino III | [13] | |
| 34 | Lieutenant General Edgar R. Fallorina (Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 9 March 2016 | 24 October 2017 | 1 year, 229 days | Benigno Aquino III Rodrigo Duterte | [14][15] | |
| 35 | Lieutenant General Galileo Gerard R. Kintanar, Jr. (Attack, Training and Staff) | 24 October 2017 | 21 December 2018 | 1 year, 58 days | Rodrigo Duterte | [16][17] | |
| 36 | Lieutenant General Rozzano D. Briguez (Helicopter Tactical Operations, Training and Staff) | 21 December 2018 | 16 January 2020 | 1 year, 26 days | Rodrigo Duterte | [18] | |
| 37 | Lieutenant General Allen T. Paredes (Attack, Logistics and Staff) | 16 January 2020 | 7 December 2021 | 1 year, 325 days | Rodrigo Duterte | [19][20] | |
| 38 | Lieutenant General Connor Anthony D. Canlas Sr. (Attack, Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 7 December 2021 | 20 December 2022 | 1 year, 13 days | Rodrigo Duterte Bongbong Marcos | [19][20][21][22] | |
| 39 | Lieutenant General Stephen Parreño (Airlifts, Helicopter Tactical Operations and Staff) | 20 December 2022 | 19 December 2024 | 1 year, 365 days | Bongbong Marcos | [23][24][25] | |
| 40 | Lieutenant General Arthur M. Cordura (Attack, Airbase Commander and Staff) | 20 December 2024 | Incumbent | 92 days | Bongbong Marcos | [26] |
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See also
[edit]- Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Philippine Air Force
- Philippine Navy
References
[edit]- ^ "Arthur Cordura named new commanding general of Air Force". GMA Network. December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Republic Act No. 11939 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. May 17, 2023.
- ^ "LEADERSHIP - Philippine Air Force". www.paf.mil.ph.
- ^ "Retiring PAF chief makes final report named". Philippine Star. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "New PAF chief: A quiet achiever named". Philippine Star. 15 May 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Air Force chief retires; OIC named". Philippine Star. 8 September 2002. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Air Force has new chief". Philippine Star. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Arroyo names Tolentino as new Air Force chief". GMA News. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ Laude, Jaime (4 January 2008). "Ex-GMA chief pilot heads PAF". Philippine Star. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "AFP names new Air Force chief". GMA News. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Arroyo PMA 'classmate' named new Air Force chief". GMA News. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Profile: PAF Commanding General Lauro Catalino G. dela Cruz". Official Gazette. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Aquino's former aide is new PH Air Force chief". Rappler. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Fallorina to assume post as PAF chief". CNN Philippines. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Helicopter pilot Lt. Gen. Fallorina is new Air Force chief". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ Wakefield, Francis (24 October 2017). "Kintanar named new PAF chief". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ Placido, Dharel (24 October 2017). "Philippine Air Force welcomes new chief". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Briguez is new Air Force chief". CNN Philippines. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Duterte appoints new Philippine Air Force chief". CNN Philippines. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Air logistics commander is new Air Force chief". Rappler. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Connor Anthony Canlas is new Air Force chief". RAPPLER. 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Air Force's 'top gun' in 1993 named new PAF commanding general". Manila Bulletin.
- ^ "Pilot who led air mobility efforts during Marawi siege takes command of PH Air Force". Manila Bulletin. 20 December 2022.
- ^ "New PH Air Force chief to continue service's key initiatives".
- ^ Flores, Helen. "Philippines committed to have world-class Air Force – Marcos". Philstar.com.
- ^ "Arthur Cordura named new commanding general of Air Force". GMA Network. December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
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| Army | Reserve Command (RESCOM) |
| Air Force | |
| Navy | |
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