MANILA, Philippines--Philippine Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino has decided to retire a month early to give Malacañang a wider berth in choosing his successor.

Tolentino wrote higher headquarters expressing his desire to end his term this month in order to give the two most senior Air Force generals a crack at his post.

“I decided to relinquish my post early to give a wider array of options for my successor,” Tolentino told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.

Tolentino, who assumed command of the PAF in February 2007, was slated to end his term on Feb. 7 when he turns 56, the mandatory retirement age in the military.

Tolentino explained that the leading candidates for his job, PAF Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Pedro Inserto and Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, would otherwise not qualify to replace him if he were to complete his term.

“If I finish my term on February 7, they would be disqualified because by then they'd have less than a year of service left,” he said. Ranking military appointees must have at least a year left in the service to qualify for a final posting.

Both candidates will reach retirement age in January 2009, Cadungog on the 9th and Inserto on the 21st.

Turnover ceremonies have been set for Jan. 4.

Had Tolentino decided to complete his term in February, both generals would have been disqualified as they would have had only 11 months left in the service.

PAF headquarters may submit a list of recommended successors but only President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may appoint the Air Force chief.

Recapping his 11-month term, Tolentino, a seasoned helicopter pilot, said much of his focus was on training and retaining Air Force pilots amid their migration to commercial aviation.

Tolentino’s watch had its share of aircraft crashes but he said he endeavored to enrich the PAF's fleet.

Plans to acquire new planes, particularly assault and transport aircraft, were drawn up during his term.

All remain on the drawing board, however, given the extensive acquisition and bidding process in the military.