Aquino to grace AFP's 75th anniversary rites

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said he will issue an executive order improving soldiers' combat pay. The new directive is expected to be revealed on Tuesday, when he goes to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' 75th founding anniversary. It will be the second time Aquino will attend a major military event as President, the first being in July 2010 during the formal assumption of then Lt. Gen. Ricardo David as AFP chief. Aquino will be the guest of honor and speaker during Tuesday's event, which will be marked by a grand parade involving division-size troops and a fly-by of over 30 military aircraft. “There will be a parade and review, a grand parade with the President as the guest of honor . . . We will have a fly-by with plenty of aircraft coming from the Philippine Air Force," said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta on Monday. Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said at least 32 Air Force aircraft will be involved in the fly-by. “To cap the parade, a 32-aircraft fly-by, which will be opened by a high-speed opener pass using an AS-211 jet aircraft, will be performed by the Philippine Air Force," said Okol. Come evening, the military leadership will render a testimonial dinner in honor of Aquino, the military’s commander-in-chief. He said senior AFP officials will be dining with the President. - with Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV