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Friday, January 04, 2008
General Cadungog is new Air Force chief
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has designated Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Pedrito Cadungog as the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), replacing Lieutenant General Horacio Tolentino who is giving up his post ahead of his scheduled retirement next month.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. will be taking over the assumption rites for Cadungog, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1975, on Friday at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, headquarters of the Air Force.
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Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public information officer Bartolome Bacarro announced the appointment of Cadungog as the new Air Force chief in Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday noon upon the directive of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
"The chief of staff gave me the information that General Pedrito Cadungog who is the incumbent deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been appointed, will be taking over the helm of the Philippine Air Force," said Bacarro.
Bacarro said Cadungog is highly qualified to head the Air Force, which has about 17,000 officers and men, along with the other officers whom he bested in the selection process.
Cadungog's appointment was endorsed by the AFP's Board of Generals.
Bacarro described Cadungog as a credible officer who has served the military well. Before his appointment as the AFP's No. 3 man as deputy chief of staff last year, Cadungog was the chief of the Air Force Education and Training Command.
Cadungog previously held the position of Chief of Air Staff and commander of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing. He also served as deputy chief and later acting group commander of the Presidential Security Group from 2000 up to 2003.
"We have procedures to follow. Whoever occupies a major position, his appointment passes through a process, which includes our Board of Generals, which would deliberate on the credentials of the candidates and this is coursed through the Department of (National) Defense. Then the final approval will be from the President, so it (Cadungog's appointment) is the prerogative of the President," said Bacarro.
Cadungog, son of a farmer and a plain housewife, was born on January 11, 1953 in Ginatilan, Cebu. He entered the premier military school PMA in 1971, graduated four years later and subsequently commissioned as second lieutenant of the Air Force.
Shortly after his graduation from the PMA, Cadungog studied at the PAF Flying School where he graduated in 1976. Thereafter, he became a flight instructor from 1977 up to 1981 during which he honed his flying, teaching, leadership, and managerial skills.
Since 1981, Cadungog commanded a number of positions in the Air Force, including as head of the 206th Tactical Helicopter Squadron. He is a recipient of a number of medals, including two presidential legion of honor awards and two distinguished service stars.
Cadungog is married to an accomplished educator and entrepreneur, Angelie Cuison, and they are blessed with two children -- Marriane and Jerichoe.
Cadungog bested Air Force Vice Commander Pedro Insierto in the race for Air Force chief.
Insierto, a member of the PMA Class of 1974, will be assuming Cadungog's previous post, as the new AFP deputy chief of staff. (VR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (January 4, 2008 issue)
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