Aquino: ‘One year from now, I will return to private life’

MANILA, Philippines – It was perhaps the first of many goodbyes.

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, July 1, attended the 68th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Air Force with a bittersweet reminder to the airmen, as well as to himself: it was the last  PAF anniversary event he was attending as Commander-in-Chief.

Aquino said that in a year, he would return to private life, dismissing previous suggestions that he would follow the footsteps of former president Gloria Arroyo who ran, and won, an elective post after her term ended in 2010. She is currently the representative of the 2nd District of Pampanga.

“Ito na po ang huling anibersaryo ng ating Hukbong Himpapawid na dadaluhan ko bilang inyong Commander-in-Chief. Isang taon mula ngayon, babalik na ako sa buhay-pribado (This is the last anniversary of the Philippine Air Force that I am attending as your Commander-in-Chief. One year from now, I will return to private life),” Aquino said at the start of his keynote address.

Aquino will step down as president on June 30, 2016, the same day that his successor will take his oath. 

In his speech, Aquino recalled his administration’s contributions to the modernization of the PAF fleet, such as the acquisition of new assets including a squadron of FA-50 fighter jets that will be delivered beginning December 2016.

He added that from one functioning C130 plane, the PAF now has 3, and that two more are in the process of acquisition to improve the PAF’s “heavy-lifting capability.”

Aquino said that the PAF has also received the first of 3 CASA C-295 medium lift transports and two new Bell 412s. He said due for delivery are two more C-295, 2 C-212 light lift transports, 6 Bell 412 combat utility helicopters, and 6 close-air support aircraft “that would expand our capability to conduct different operations in our country.”

The Air Force is also pushing for a PAF Flight Plan 2028 that seeks to modernize the service in the next 12 years.

Aquino called on the air men to stick to “Daang Matuwid” so the PAF can continue its capability improvement, a subtle endorsement of the anointed successor he has yet to endorse. (READ: Aquino: Stick with Daang Matuwid after 2016)

Aquino’s colleagues at the Liberal Party is expecting him to endorse Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II after his last State of the Nation Addres later this month.

Aquino also mentioned and thanked all his chiefs of staff during his speech – retired generals Ricardo David, Eduardo Oban Jr, Jessie Dellosa, Emmanuel Bautista, and current AFP chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang.

The President wil appoint a new AFP chief next week, when Catapang reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 11. – Rappler.com