MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte designated on Thursday another military man to lead a government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC).

Newly retired Philippine Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez will lead the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp., Duterte announced during the former’s retirement ceremony.

“Now is as good as any other time to tell you that from here, he will be heading an office, a critical one. I fired the [previous one] — for corruption — pinalitan ko and he’s going to head the exploration division of the Philippine National Oil Company,” Duterte said in a speech during the change of command ceremony of the Philippine Air Force.

Briguez replaces Pedro Aquino Jr., who was fired by the president last year over a questionable deal involving a Russian firm.

Aquino, however, said he resigned from his post on President Duterte’s request.