MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura has been appointed as the new commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, Malacañang announced. The appointment was confirmed in a letter dated December 16, addressed to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
In the letter, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. approved Cordura’s appointment, noting the recommendation from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner and the AFP Board of Generals.
WHO IS LT. GEN. ARTHUR CORDURA, THE NEWLY APPOINTED PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE CHIEF?
Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura has officially taken over as the new chief of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday, December 19, during a change of command and retirement ceremony for outgoing PAF chief, Lieutenant General Stephen Parreño.
Cordura’s appointment was confirmed earlier, on December 16, with an approval letter from the Office of the President, and was backed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. and the AFP Board of Generals.
Prior to this role, Cordura had served as the AFP’s second-in-command since November 2022, a few months before significant reshuffles in the Marcos administration’s defense and security leadership.
In January 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reappointed Andres Centino as AFP chief for a brief second term, followed by the appointment of former military chief Eduardo Año as National Security Adviser, replacing Clarita Carlos.
The current AFP chief, Brawner, was appointed in July 2023.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Bigkis Lahi Class of 1990, Cordura has held various key positions, including vice commander of the PAF, chief of its Air Staff, commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, and commander of the 520th Air Base Wing.
He succeeds Parreño, who is from the younger PMA Sambigsig Class of 1991.
Cordura’s leadership comes at a critical time for the PAF, which has been shifting its focus towards external defense.
Despite limited resources, the Air Force plays a vital role in safeguarding the country, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, where tensions with China continue.
The PAF has been pushing for an expansion of its capabilities, including acquiring additional fighter jets.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has emphasized the need for at least 36 more multirole fighter jets, as the PAF currently operates only 12 South Korean-made FA-50PHs.
In recent developments, the PAF has acquired two air surveillance radar systems from Japan, with three more expected soon, as the Philippines becomes a key recipient of Japan’s new Official Security Assistance framework.