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THE
newly designated Air Force commander said he would
continue the implementation of the Philippine Defense
Reform (PDR) program that includes the acquisition of
six night-capable attack helicopters and six utility
helicopters using the P5 billion allotted by President
Arroyo for such purpose during the year.
“I will
continue the projects on the pipeline. This includes
doctrine development, increasing the proficiency of our
pilots, acquiring new equipment and improving existing
equipment. There is nothing much you can do in one year
except to pursue the [ongoing] programs,” said Lt. Gen.
Pedrito Cadungog.
Lt. Col.
Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the Armed Forces public
information office, announced Cadungog’s appointment on
Thursday.
The
chief of staff gave me the information that he [Cadungog]
… will be taking over the helm of the Air Force tomorrow
[Friday] at 3 p.m.,” said Bacarro.
Besides
the 12 helicopters, Cadungog said the Air Force will
acquire on the second quarter of the year 10
reconditioned UH-1H “Huey” helicopters.
By the
end of the year, Cadungog said the Air Force will also
acquire eight T-41 trainer planes from the
US
and 18 Italian-made SF-260 Marchetti trainer planes.
“We are
investing a lot. This is all under the PDR,” said
Cadungog, a member of the Philippine Military Academy
Class 1975.
Cadungog
replaced Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino, who opted to retire
early. He is supposed to retire on February 7 after a
two-year stint.
Maj.
Gen. Enrique Insierto, former vice commander of Air
Force, will take Cadungog’s former post as the deputy
chief of staff of the Armed Forces.
Earlier,
word leaked out that Cadungog would replace Tolentino,
who was earlier quoted as saying that he was told that
Cadungog would be his replacement.
A text
message that was sent to defense reporters said that
“patronage is again back in the military after the Air
Force chief, Tolentino, retired earlier than scheduled
to give way to Cadungog, the former head of the
Presidential Airlift Wing and a known Arroyo loyalist.”
“Many
officers in the PAF are not happy with the development
because Cadungog lacked certain qualifications but he
has political connections that others don’t have,” the
message said.
Four
senior officers vied for the post—two of them are not
PMA alumni. The other top contender is Insierto, PMA
Class ’74 and classmate of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.,
Armed Forces chief of staff.
From
more than 200 aircraft of all types a decade ago, the
Air Force now has less than 100 in its inventory.
The
situation is so desperate, a senior officer said, that
Air Force personnel are now being used as infantry
troops in some parts of the country just to keep them on
the payroll.
The Air
Force troops used as infantry soldiers, euphemistically
called “special operations” and “counterterrorist”
units, are deployed in some areas in Southern Tagalog,
particularly Batangas province to fight communist
guerrillas. |
