MANILA (Xinhua) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Maj. Gen. Oscar Rabena as new chief of the Philippine Air Force, replacing Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog who is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56, a military spokesman said on Friday.     

""He is a complete package of an officer and a multi-dimensional officer because he became commander of various key units ranking from tactical, plans and programs,"" said Air Force spokesman Maj. Gerry Zamudio of the incoming Air Force chief.     
Rabena, current deputy chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for plans and programs, is scheduled to replaced Cadungong in a ceremony to be presided by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano at the Air Force headquarters at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Friday afternoon.     
Prior to his current post, Rabena was the Air Force inspector general, commander of the 15th Strike Wing and commander of the Presidential Airlift Wing, which is in charge of the aircraft used by the President and her family.     
""He was the inspector general of the Air Force who knows the problem at the lower echelon. He knows the concerns and he knows what should be done. He is indeed the best choice,"" said the spokesman.     
Rabena is a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1978, which has adopted the President herself as an honorary member.