Navy, Air Force commanders to retire this month

MANILA, Philippines -  The Air Force and the Navy will undergo leadership changes this month as the commanders of the two major military services retire.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz will hang up his uniform on April 25, five days before he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Air Force spokesman Col. Miguel Okol said the retirement rites would be held earlier to accommodate the schedule of President Aquino, who will be meeting United States President Barack Obama on April 29.

The turnover ceremony will be held at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa, Batangas, where most of the Air Force pilots started their careers.

“His (Dela Cruz) request was to retire in the place where he started,” Okol said.

Sources previously disclosed that Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, the Armed Forces deputy chief for plans and programs, is a strong contender to succeed dela Cruz.

A member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’82, Delgado was a member of the Presidential Security Group of former President Corazon Aquino.

Other officers who are qualified to be the next Air Force chief include Lt. Gen. Virgilio Domingo, the Deputy Chief of Staff and a graduate of PMA class ’81; Maj. Gen. Nicanor Vivar, chief of the Air Force’s 3rd division based in Zamboanga City and a classmate of Delgado; and Maj. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Air Force chief of staff and a member of class ’83.

Dela Cruz, a member of PMA class ’80, assumed as chief of the 20,000-strong Air Force on Jan. 10, 2012. 

Meanwhile, Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano will bow out of the service on April 30, a day before his 56th birthday.

Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic said the retirement ceremony in honor of Alano would be held at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Cavite.

Named after Alano’s father, The venue was chosen because it serves as the home of the Navy’s biggest facility and the Philippine Fleet.

Fabic could not tell who would succeed Alano as leader of the more than 25,000-strong Navy.

Sources, however, said the outgoing Navy chief’s younger brother, Rear Adm. Leopoldo Alano, is being considered for the post.

The younger Alano is a graduate of PMA class ’82 and is the commander of the Naval Forces Central based in Cebu.

Other officers who are qualified to succeed Alano are Chief of Naval Staff Rear Adm. Isabelo Gador of PMA class ’81; Rear Adm. Jesus Millan, chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao of PMA class ’82; and his classmate Rear Adm. Renan Suarez, chief of the Naval Education and Training Command.