Lt. Gen. Antonio Ramon Lim, the deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), officially retired Saturday, capping off a 38-year service in the military.
Gen. Gilbert Gapay, AFP chief of staff, presided over the joint Change of Chief of Office and Retirement Ceremony for Lim and his successor, Rear Admiral Erick Kagaoan, in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
"Essential to this transition is the caliber of leadership portrayed by these fine gentlemen whose lasting contributions in their military careers continue to resound in the Armed Forces today and many years in the future," Gapay said.
Lim is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Sinagtala" Class of 1986.
He started his career at the Philippine Air Force Flying School and earned his Aviation Wings in 1988. He further enhanced his skills as an instructor pilot of the AS-211 jet trainer aircraft and other trainer aircraft until 1994.
Before his stint as the deputy chief of staff, Lim had served as the AFP Inspector General and commander of the Philippine Air Force Air Defense Command.
He also led the 5th Fighter Wing in 2017, whose game-changing FA-50 light combat aircraft were instrumental in the liberation of Marawi City from Daesh-linked terrorists.
"To be in the military is to accept that the welfare of our nation and our people comes before everything else that we hold dearly," Lim said.
"Allow me then to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has helped me reach this stage in my life. I owed it to these people, who, in their own great ways, have been instrumental and have inspired me to lead a more purposeful and meaningful life as a man of service," he added.
During the ceremony, Lim received the Distinguished Service Star for his "excellent performance of his duties" as the deputy chief of staff, and the Philippine Legion of Honor (Degree of Officer) for his stint as the AFP Inspector General.
Gapay assured that the AFP leadership will rally behind Kagaoan's endeavors as the new deputy chief of staff for the betterment of the military.
He said that Kagaoan was nominated for the position due to leadership citations and his command experience.
Prior to his new designation, Kagaoan was the commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao. He also served as the commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon, chief of Naval Staff, and director of Naval Management and Fiscal Office.
Throughout his career as a Navy officer, Kagaoan commanded seven commissioned vessels of the Philippine Navy, including the BRP Artemio Ricarte, BRP Cebu, and BRP Kalinga-Apayao.
He was also one of the Metrobank Foundation's The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) in 2019.