Three active officers and one retired general officer from the Philippine Air Force received recognition for their achievements during the PMA Homecoming at the Philippine Military Academy, Baguio City on February 18, 2023, attended by President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr as Guest of Honor and Speaker.
Amongst the active PAF officers who were accorded with awards by the PMA’s alumni association is no other than the Commanding General himself, LTGEN STEPHEN P PARREÑO PAF, who was accorded with the OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for his distinct achievement of making it to the top post of the Philippine Air Force.
Notably, COL ANN MARIE T GERODIAZ PAF (GSC), a female pioneer recipient of the PMA Cavalier Award, was given recognition in the field of Air Operations (Senior Officer), for her accomplishments as the Group Commander of Tactical Operations Group 8. Under her leadership, her unit which is based in Tacloban City, helped in the effective execution of Dolores Focused Military Operations (FMO), a joint air and land effort which led to the biggest military offensives accomplishment in Eastern Visayas during the Duterte administration.
The same cavalier award in the junior officer category was given to MAJ JAMES ANTHONY A MONTEJO PAF for his contributions as an attack pilot during the Marawi siege and various other offensive operations and close air support missions that resulted in the neutralization of the Maute/ISIS Group and other high-value targets belonging to the Communist Terrorist Groups.
Moreover, GEN BENJAMIN P DEFENSOR JR PAF (Ret) was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long years of untiring dedication as a public servant that stretched beyond his retirement. GEN DEFENSOR (Ret) is the 26th CG, PAF and the 30th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In 2004, he was appointed as Philippine Ambassador At Large and Chairman of The Counter Terrorism body of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He was also recommended as the Chair to the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council of the United Nations, and in 2017, he was designated as the Presidential Adviser and Director of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), wherein he was also elected as Vice Chairman and later became the Acting Chairman.
The men and women of the Philippine Air Force give the highest praises and snappiest salutes to these gallant officers in blue for their outstanding accomplishments and exemplary service to the country and the Filipino people. (VICTOR BALDEMOR RUIZ)
