AIR Force chief Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño bows out of the service today, Thursday, having served for the maximum two-year term under the law.
A replacement has yet to be named for Parreño, who took over as the 39th commanding general of the Air Force on December 20, 2022.
“We’re still waiting,” Air Force spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo said in a phone interview yesterday, referring to Parreño’s successor.
“This coming 19 December, Thursday, we’re going to have the change of command ceremony, it’s also going to be a retirement ceremony for our 39th commanding general, Lt. Gen. Stephen P. Parreno,” Castillo told a press briefing last Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo.
Castillo said there is already a shortlist of contenders but refused to reveal them.
“But we are sure that those in the shortlist are very competent and that they will go through the processes and deliberation of the Board of the Generals and up the chain of command for the selection,” said Castillo.
“And we are confident that whoever will be chosen will be able to lead the Philippine Air Force well for the next two years,” Castillo added.
The change of command ceremony is set to be held at the Air Education, Training and Doctrine Command headquarters at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
President Marcos Jr., the military’s commander-in-chief, is due to preside over the ceremony.
In a statement yesterday, Castillo said the Air Force will pay tribute to Parreño during the ceremony, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1991.
Parreño previously held key positions in the Air Force before becoming the Air Force chief, including acting Air Force vice commander, Chief of Air Staff, and Air Force Inspector General.
“Along with the retirement ceremony, the PAF anticipates the conduct of Change of Command rites following the designation of a new Commanding General, who is expected to lead the organization onward towards its vision of becoming a credible and agile Air Force adaptable to modern warfare and responsive to national and regional security and development,” said Castillo.
Under the law, the commanders of the major services of the Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy) and the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy shall have a maximum tour of duty of two consecutive years, unless sooner terminated by the President.
The same law sets the maximum tour of duty of the Armed Forces chief for three consecutive years, unless terminated by the President.
