BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and VICTOR REYES
PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday named newly retired Air Force commander Rozzano Briguez as president and chief executive officer of the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC).
The President made the announcement during the Air Force change of command ceremony in Pasay City.
The new Air Force chief, Maj. Gen. Allen Paredes, ordered the deployment of more equipment and personnel to help residents affected by the activities of Taal Volcano in Batangas.
“We shall strive to be first on the scene to seize the golden hour in all our missions, including anti-drugs and disaster relief operations,” Paredes said. “In line with this, my first order is to dispatch additional personnel and equipment to help our countrymen affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano,” he said.
Paredes also said his command framework “is for the Air Force to rise above the challenges and adhere to the highest standard of excellence in the service of God, country and people.”
“These (take the lead, soar as one) will be the two vectors of my command guidance, the bridge towards our vision of a more capable and credible air force responsive to national security and development,” he said.
Duterte thanked Briguez for his services to the country and for instituting reforms in the Air Force.
Duterte said all he asks of Briguez is to be “honest.”
The President in October last year fired PNO-EC president CEO Pedro Aquino Jr. over an alleged questionable oil deal with a Russian firm. Aquino claimed he resigned from his post.
Briguez, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, graduated No. 2 number in his class.
Duterte also commended Air Force for its accomplishments in the areas of internal security operations and disaster response, as well as for its strong support to law enforcement and peacekeeping efforts, including in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups.
