President Marcos has reminded the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to remain vigilant as complacency will endanger the safety and welfare of the country and its people.

Marcos said this as he welcomed and congratulated incoming Air Force chief Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura in a ceremony at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Wednesday morning, Dec. 19.

In his speech, the President called on the men and women of the Air Force under the new leadership, to continue embodying the principles of honor, duty, and excellence in achieving greater heights and ensuring the safety and welfare of Filipinos.

"To the men and women of the Philippine Air Force, your service is a source of immense pride for our country," he said.

"Under this new leadership, you may continue to reach even greater heights, embodying the principles of honor, duty, and excellence," he added.

With this, Marcos reminded the PAF troops to remain vigilant as complacency may put Filipinos and the country at risk.

"These times call for vigilance and for resolve. There is no room for complacency," he said.

"Any pause in our efforts to risk compromising the safety and welfare of the Filipino people," he added.

Meanwhile, President Marcos assured the PAF that his government would prioritize the continuous modernization of the Armed Forces to further empower them in protecting the country and the people.

"We must ensure that the continued modernization of our armed forces remains a priority, empowering us to protect the ideals that define our nation," he said.

In his speech during the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony in Honor of Lieutenant General Stephen Parreño, President Marcos expressed his trust and confidence in Cordura in guiding PAF to become more agile, credible, and responsive to the country's and Filipinos' demands for duty.

"The road ahead is not without its challenges, but I am confident that you (Cordura) will rise to meet those challenges," Marcos said.

"With your steadfast leadership, you can guide the Air Force towards becoming an institution that is more agile, credible, and responsive to the demands of an ever-evolving security landscape," he added.

Marcos likewise honored Parreño for inspiring every airman to embrace the ideals of competence, professionalism, and responsiveness.

"The legacy of your leadership is etched in the achievements of the Philippine Air Force under your watch,” he addressed Parreño.

The Chief Executive emphasized Parreño’s significant contribution to PAF, particularly the 2,500 flying hours dedicated to external defense and 450 maritime patrol missions in strengthening the country’s territorial integrity and protecting the exclusive economic zone.

According to President Marcos, such contributions are representations of vigilance, determination, and unwavering resolve to safeguard the country’s airspace.

"In these efforts, our skilled pilots have remained resolute, intercepting threats [and] monitoring unidentified tracks that encroach upon our airspace," he said.

Marcos also recognized Parreño’s leadership in addressing multifaceted threats by carrying out 119 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

He also lauded how Parreño led PAF in rescuing 320 trafficked individuals from exploitation, and in confiscating illegal goods worth millions of pesos.

It was during Parreño’s tenure that significantly marked the capability enhancement of the PAF through the acquisition of one C-295 medium-lift aircraft, two T-129 ATAK helicopters, one mobile radar, one fixed radar, and 10 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.

"This increased the Philippines’ readiness to confront evolving challenges," Marcos said.

Before ending his speech, the President recognized Parreño’s 37-year service and accomplishments as testaments to his vision, diligence, and unyielding commitment to PAF’s mission.

"These accomplishments are a testament to your vision, diligence, and unyielding commitment to the mission at hand. After thirty-seven years of dedicated service to our nation, you pass on a legacy that embodies excellence and inspires the next generation of leaders to build upon the foundations that you have laid," he said.