Air Force chief opts for ‘early retirement’

From Malaya Business Insight (Dec 7): Air Force chief opts for ‘early retirement’

LT. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar is stepping down as Philippine Air Force chief, opting to bow out of the service a year earlier than the mandatory retirement age of 56, according to the Department of National Defense.

Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez, chief of the AFP’s Western Command based in Puerto Princesa City, has been named by President Duterte as Kintanar’s replacement.

Reports on Briguez’ new post came out late Wednesday. Copies of his appointment paper, dated December 5, were released by Malacañang only yesterday.

The paper said the designation was effective December 5 but Kintanar, up until yesterday, has yet to be formally replaced as Air Force chief.

No date has been set for Briguez’ assumption as Air Force chief, and no announcement has been made on Briguez replacement as chief of Wescom, which supervises all operations in the South China Sea.

“He said he will retire,” said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of Kintanar, who assumed the top Air Force post in October last year. Kintanar is reaching the retirement age of 56 in January 2020.

“General Kintanar simply opted for early retirement,” said Arsenio Andolong, spokesman of the Department of National Defense.

Asked why Kintanar is opting for early retirement, he said, “I don’t know, for whatever reason.”

Col. Noel Detoyato, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said Kintanar’s exit is not related to any corruption case. “It’s just to give way to a more junior officer (Briguez),” said Detoyato.

Kintanar is a classmate of retiring AFP chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. at the Philippine Military Academy class of 1985. Briguez is from PMA Class of 1986. Kintanar got his third star earlier than Briguez.

Detoyato described Briguez as a “one of the intellectuals of (PMA) Class 1986 and highly regarded.”

“Max Defense,” a defense blog, implied that Kintanar was ordered relieved because his position on the acquisition of combat utility helicopters is contrary to that of Duterte administration officials.

Reports said the Air Force is pushing for the acquisition of Bell helicopters while Duterte officials want less-capable helicopters. The government has allotted P12 billion for the helicopter project.

Asked to comment on Max Defense statement, Detoyato said: “It’s the opinion of Max Defense forum.”

He said the relief of Kintanar will not affect the modernization program of the Air Force. “The funds are there, the technical working group is there. Projects under the modernization program are thoroughly studied.”

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said there is “nothing irregular” with the replacement of Kintanar as Air Force chief.

Arevalo said Kintanar “was replaced not for any issues of corruption or anomalies as insinuated by some posts in social media.”

“This recent change in the PAF leadership is part of the ongoing movement in the top posts in the AFP hierarchy,” said Arevalo.

https://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/air-force-chief-opts-%E2%80%98early-retirement%E2%80%99