Duterte appoints new PAF chief
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Command (AFP-WesCom) Chief Lt. Gen. Rozzano D. Briguez was appointed Wednesday as the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF)
In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana dated December 5, 2018, President Duterte confirmed he has appointed Briguez as PAF chief.
“I wish to inform you that, per your letter endorsement and in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chairman, AFP Board of Generals, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8186, as amended, the designation of Lieutenant General Rozzano Briguez, Armed Forces of the Philippines as Commanding General, Philippine Air Force Vice Lt. Gen. Galileo Kintanar Jr., AFP, is hereby approved effective this date,” the letter read.
Briguez is a member of the “Sinagtala” Class of 1986 of the Philippine Military Academy.
AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said Kintanar, who was appointed as PAF chief in October, 2017, was not relieved due to corruption.
“No, he is not relieved for corruption. It’s just to give way to the junior officers. That's how professional and dynamic the organization is,” he said.
Detoyato said Briguez, who is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, is one of the intellectuals of his class.
“He is very soft spoken and approachable,” Detoyato said.
Asked if both officials talked about the change in the leadership of PAF, Detoyato said he is not privy to it.
“Kasi (Because) the junior officers has to go up, so the dynamism of the AFP organization is if the junior officers have to go up, the older ones have to give way,” he said.
Detoyato said Kintanar, who is set to retire from the military service in January, 2020, could opt for early retirement or be appointed to a position fitting his rank.
Kintanar is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class of 1985.
Prior to his appointment as PAF chief, Briguez held the position of head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command in 2017.
Briguez also held previous assignments such as vice commander of the Air Force, chief of air staff of the Air Force, commandant of cadets at the PMA, and assistant chief of air staff for operations at the Air Force.