From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 7): President Aquino confers PHL Legion of Honor on outgoing Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of commander on retiring Army Chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes on Friday.
The retirement ceremony was held at the Headquarters of the Philippine Army Grandstand at Fort Andres Bonifacio inTaguig City
During the ceremony, Coballes, who served the country for 38 years, told the President that a simple rule he kept was to "listen to your troops and look out for their welfare."
Coballes also said that as the President's father, the late former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. once said that “The Filipino is worth dying for,” according to him, “The Filipino is also worth living for.”
“As an officer, I hope that I will be remembered not on how many stars I accumulated on my shoulders, but for what I have accomplished while wearing them,” Coballes said.
The now retired Army chief celebrated on Friday his 56th birthday, the mandatory retirement age in the military service.
He also presented gifts to the President, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.
Meanwhile, Major Gen. Hernando Iriberri also formally assumed his post as the new Army chief succeeding Coballes.
Iriberri was the commander of the Army's 7th Infantry Division before his appointment as 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=613628
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of commander on retiring Army Chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes on Friday.
The retirement ceremony was held at the Headquarters of the Philippine Army Grandstand at Fort Andres Bonifacio in
During the ceremony, Coballes, who served the country for 38 years, told the President that a simple rule he kept was to "listen to your troops and look out for their welfare."
Coballes also said that as the President's father, the late former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. once said that “The Filipino is worth dying for,” according to him, “The Filipino is also worth living for.”
“As an officer, I hope that I will be remembered not on how many stars I accumulated on my shoulders, but for what I have accomplished while wearing them,” Coballes said.
The now retired Army chief celebrated on Friday his 56th birthday, the mandatory retirement age in the military service.
He also presented gifts to the President, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.
Meanwhile, Major Gen. Hernando Iriberri also formally assumed his post as the new Army chief succeeding Coballes.
Iriberri was the commander of the Army's 7th Infantry Division before his appointment as 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=613628