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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PAF stands by Tarlac air base commander despite Capas' 'persona non grata' tag

PAF stands by Tarlac air base commander despite Capas' 'persona non grata' tag

Published Jul 28, 2026 03:47 pm

At A Glance

  • The Philippine Air Force said Lt. Col. Owen Avenido will remain commander of Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, saying she was lawfully carrying out security measures despite being declared persona non grata by the Capas municipal council.
  • PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said the Air Force will review the allegations against Avenido but stressed that protecting the military reservation and nearby communities is part of her official mandate.
  • The Capas council accused Avenido of disrupting government services through strict checkpoint enforcement and asked AFP and PAF leaders to replace her, while the PAF maintained it remains open to dialogue with local officials.
Residents, farmers, and Indigenous Aeta communities in Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac hold a protest on July 14, 2026 to call for the easing of Philippine Air Force checkpoint restrictions at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB). The protesters also urged the PAF leadership to hold dialogue with affected communities and respect the Indigenous Peoples' rights over their ancestral domain. (Photo: Capas Information Office)
Residents, farmers, and Indigenous Aeta communities in Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac hold a protest on July 14, 2026 to call for the easing of Philippine Air Force checkpoint restrictions at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB). The protesters also urged the PAF leadership to hold dialogue with affected communities and respect the Indigenous Peoples' rights over their ancestral domain. (Photo: Capas Information Office)
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday, July 28, insisted it will retain its designated commander at the Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB) in Tarlac despite the Capas municipal council declaring her persona non grata and seeking her relief from command.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said Lt. Col. Owen Avenido was carrying out her duties as base commander by enforcing security measures inside the military reservation, a matter that was deemed too restrictive by residents.
“We will be reviewing the specifics of these allegations. But to inform the public, Lt. Col. Owen Avenido, in her capacity as the base commander, was only performing her lawful duty to protect Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base. Protecting the base is part of her mandate. It is not only about protecting the base itself, but also the communities living there,” Basco said.
Asked if Avenido would remain in her post, Basco replied, “Yes.”
The PAF issued the statement after the Sangguniang Bayan of Capas unanimously approved Municipal Resolution No. 112-2026 declaring Avenido persona non grata over alleged actions that disrupted local government operations, delayed public services, and strained civil-military relations.
During a special session, local officials, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), residents, and representatives from government agencies claimed Air Force checkpoints repeatedly prevented authorized personnel from entering the military reservation.
The council cited several incidents, including the alleged delay of a Tarlac Electric Cooperative II emergency team responding to a fire involving power lines and an electric meter. It also cited the denial of entry to Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel implementing the Pag-abot Program, municipal social workers, and councilors participating in Brigada Eskwela activities.
Residents and IPs also claimed they were prevented from bringing construction materials, fertilizer, and farm equipment into their communities.
The council also accused Avenido of repeatedly declining invitations for dialogue and criticized the exclusion of the Capas local government from a July 20 Technical Working Group meeting involving the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
The municipal council also appealed to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura to relieve Avenido from command and appoint a replacement.
Basco said the military recognizes the action taken by the local council but maintained that security measures inside CERAB were part of the commander's official responsibilities.
She added that the PAF remains open to discussions with local officials.
“We maintain that actions taken in good faith to secure military property must be understood in the context of official duty,” Basco said.

Related Tags

AFP PAF CERAB Lt. Col. Owen Avenido persona non grata
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