Air Force chief gets 3rd star

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has approved the promotion of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief along with five other senior Air Force officers, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Lauro de la Cruz got his third star (lieutenant general) from the President three months after his designation as PAF commander.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1980, De la Cruz took over the helm of PAF from retired Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena last January.

Also promoted to major general is Brig. Gen. Edgardo Rene Samonte, while Colonels Julius Ceasar Guillermo, Salvador Melchor Mison Jr., Rolando Jungco and Virgilio Hernandez got their first star (brigadier general).

Guillermo is the current commander of the 420th Airlift Wing while Mison is the Wing Commander of the 220th Air Lift Wing.

Jungco, on the other hand, is the incumbent AFP Adjutant General, while Hernandez is the deputy chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Meanwhile, Samonte is the commander of the PAF Air Education and Training Command based in Lipa City, Batangas.