December 19, 2024 | 12:40pm
MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura on Thursday, December 19, officially stepped into his new role as the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), assuming the role after outgoing Lieutenant General Stephen Parreño retired.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the change of command ceremony in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
“The road ahead is not without its challenges, but I am confident that you will rise to meet those challenges. With your steadfast leadership, you can guide the Air Force towards becoming an institution that is more agile, credible, and responsive to the demands of an ever-evolving security landscape,” Marcos said in his speech.
“These times call for vigilance and for resolve. There is no room for complacency, for any pause in our efforts to risk compromising the safety and welfare of the Filipino people,” he added.
Prior to assuming the role of PAF chief, Cordura has been the Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) since 2022. Before that, he was the Vice Commander of the PAF.
“Today, the Philippine Air Force is on the precipice of achieving something great. Opportunities simply present itself with the government leadership who shares the urgency of the AFP Modernization program, and the dire need to be territorial defense ready,” Cordura said in his speech.
Cordura said that it was time to capitalize on these opportunities. However, he said he has no plan to greatly reinvent the PAF.
Under his term, Cordura vowed a developmental strategy that was simple yet robust and sustainable. One of his command thrusts is to focus on mission-essential tasks, as well as the implementation of an air defense system.
Marcos also lauded the outgoing Parreño, who served 37 years in the military. The president said that Parreño was able to devote much of his stay in the PAF to upholding the country’s territorial integrity.
“By logging over 2500 flying hours dedicated to external defense and conducting 450 maritime patrol missions, you have strengthened our nation’s territorial integrity and protected our exclusive economic zone,” Marcos said.
Parreño also led 119 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. He also oversaw the rescue of 320 trafficked individuals.
Under Parreño’s watch, the PAF also acquired several key military assets, such as C-295 medium-lift aircraft, two T-129 ATAK helicopters, one mobile radar, one fixed radar, and 10 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.
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