President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Mrs. Bernardita Bautista, confers the Philippine Legion of Honor with the degree of Chief Commander on outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista during the Testimonial Review and AFP Change of Command Ceremony at the AFP General Headquarters Grandstand, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City Friday (July 18, 2014). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. will succeed Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., who will retire on Dec. 4 after holding the post since May 2013. Armed Forces of the Philippines
A distinguished Philippine Air Force officer will be the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ new spokesperson, the military announced Saturday.
The AFP said incoming spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. will succeed Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., who will retire on Dec. 4 after holding the post since May 2013.
“Padilla has just finished his stint as the Philippine Liaison to the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) in Hawaii and is now the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7,” the AFP said.
It will not be Padilla’s first spokesman stint – he had served as PAF public information chief in 2006 and Secretary of Air Staff in 2007.
According to the AFP, Padilla is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” Class of 1985 and will be a spokesman for the 120,000-strong AFP.
The AFP also said Padilla was recently awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his extraordinary planning and execution of four Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board meetings, engagements and “efforts leading to the doubling of combined operations, actions, and activities planned and conducted in the Philippines.”
He was given a medal by US Pacific Command (USPACOM) Commander Admiral Samuel Locklear last October 14.
Background
Padilla, who hails from Cagayan De Oro City, helped plan and implement Operation Damayan, the US’ relief effort for victims of super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year.
He held other key positions in the AFP including:
* AFP Secretary Joint Staff in 2010
* Commandant of the Philippine Air Force Flying School from 2007 to 2009
* Group Commander of the Headquarters, Technical Operations Wing from 2006 to 2007
* Squadron Commander, 3rd Headquarters Air Wing Support
In 2002, Padilla completed his Masters in Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.
He took Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Computer Engineering at Don Bosco Technical College in 1981; and completed his Academic Instructor Course at the Air University in Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
From 1999 to 2000, he represented the AFP in military trainings and conferences on international and regional defense relations including the 42nd Mutual Defense Board Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2000; Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conferences in Hawaii in 1999; and Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific in Thailand in 1999.
He was also a member of the Philippine Panel for the RP-Australia Security Dialogue in Manila in January 2000.
In June 2010, Padilla received the Presidential Citation Badge and Election Duty Badge for his contribution to the country’s first automated national and local elections in 2010.
He also received three Gold Cross Medals, three Bronze Cross Medals, Distinguished Aviation Cross, numerous Military Merit Medals, Commendations and an EDSA Revolution Badge that he received in 1987. (MNS)