BRP Antonio Luna (File photo courtesy of Philippine Navy) MANILA - The Philippine Navy (PN) is poised to be at par with its regional counterparts through the acquisition of more modern warships in the coming years, its acting chief said on Thursday. "In five years time, when the arrival of the seven more Acero-class gunboats, the new construction landing docks, the new generation corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, the average age of our seagoing platforms will be 10 years old. Comparable and even better than our maritime neighbors," PN acting flag-officer-in-command Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia said in his assumption speech at the Navy headquarters. Valencia referred to the warships that were procured as part of the PN's modernization program. To date, the Navy is now equipped with two brand-new missile-armed frigates, two landing docks, two anti-submarine helicopters, and 12 multi-purpose attack craft, six of which are now equipped with the Israeli-made Spike-ER su
MANILA - Maj. Gen. Connor Anthony D. Canlas is now the head of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) following the mandatory retirement of Lt. Gen. Allen T. Paredes Tuesday. Retirement and change-of-command ceremonies took place at PAF headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Canlas is the head of the Air Force Reserve Command and former Air Defense Command chief, and a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989. In his speech, the new PAF chief lauded the service's leadership for the improvements and remarkable changes in the organization in the past years. He also lauded Paredes for showing them the "true meaning of 'Malasakit' (compassion) amidst various calamities and the Covid-19 pandemic". "Sir, we are truly grateful in serving with you in capacitating the PAF. As your successor, I will give my utmost love and devotion to the organization and its personnel," he said. Canlas believes continuity of the "previous command thrus
MANILA - Maj. Gen. Connor Anthony D. Canlas is now the head of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) following the mandatory retirement of Lt. Gen. Allen T. Paredes Tuesday. Retirement and change-of-command ceremonies took place at PAF headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Canlas is the PAF vice commander and former Air Defense Command chief, and a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989. In his speech, the new PAF chief lauded the service's leadership for the improvements and remarkable changes in the organization in the past years. He also lauded Paredes for showing them the "true meaning of 'Malasakit' (compassion) amidst various calamities and the Covid-19 pandemic". "Sir, we are truly grateful in serving with you in capacitating the PAF. As your successor, I will give my utmost love and devotion to the organization and its personnel," he said. Canlas believes continuity of the "previous command thrusts and frameworks&q