Simple retirement rites for Oban

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban has opted a “simple” ceremony for his retirement on Monday, a military spokesman said.

Public affairs chief Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said that instead of the usual parade of armored assets and motorized vehicles, only foot troops will be at the ceremony.

“We prepared division-sized parading elements for the change of command ceremony. There will be battalion-sized troops in charge of arrival honors for our commander-in-chief,” Burgos said.

A division is composed of about 1,000 soldiers, while a battalion is about 400.

However, a high-speed opener pass using an S211 jet aircraft will be made at the start of the ceremony as a tribute to Oban, who is a fighter pilot, added Burgos.

There will be no mechanized elements for austerity measures and as a dedication to the troops in the field, he added.

Oban is scheduled to retire on Monday but his successor has yet to be named by President Benigno Aquino III.