Duterte appoints new Air Force chief

(PNA photo)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has named Maj. Gen Allen Paredes as the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

Paredes, who currently serves as PAF’s Air Logistics Commander, will formally replace retiring Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez in a turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to be attended by the President on Thursday (January 16).

Paredes was former wing commander of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing from February 2016 to July 2018.

Paredes was also among the members of a committee that probed the plane crash that killed former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo in August 2012.

He is also a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988.

In a statement, PAF spokesperson Maj.

Aristides Galang welcomed Paredes’ appointment, describing him as a “competent” and “outstanding” officer.

Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong also congratulated Paredes, saying his “wide experience” and “sterling record” will serve the PAF well.

“We wish him good luck,” Andolong said in a statement.

Paredes was endorsed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and recommended by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. and the AFP Board of Generals. (With reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)