AFP skips anniversary celebration in wake of Odette devastation
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines has scrapped its plans to celebrate its 86th anniversary on Tuesday in the wake of the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Odette in parts of the country, where disaster response operations remained underway.
The AFP was supposed to hold a small parade and a fly-by of some air assets in the anniversary program set at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the military’s main headquarters. It would have been a tribute to President Rodrigo Duterte, who marked his last year as President and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Some trainer jets and attack planes of the Philippine Air Force have been spotted rehearsing over Metro Manila skies in recent days for the fly-by.
The AFP has also opened its doors to the public for a static display of some of its existing assets as part of the pre-anniversary celebration.
“In these challenging times, brought about by the devastation of Typhoon Odette and the persisting pandemic, we will forego the AFP anniversary program, parade and fly-by in solidarity and sympathy with our kababayans and in order to not disrupt our on-going humanitarian assistance and disaster operations” AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino said in a statement.
“We shall celebrate while doing our jobs in the field. This is how we will honor our long history of service and tradition of sacrifice to the Filipino people,” he said.
The AFP is in the forefront of disaster response for Typhoon Odette, the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country this year, where at least 300 have died based on police records.
