by Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
The Philippine Navy (PN) has promoted a maritime school dean and a master mariner a rank higher as reserve officers while eight others were commissioned to the naval reserve force in line with efforts to beef up the country’s reserve force.
In a statement Tuesday, Capt. Jonathan Zata, Navy spokesperson, said Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Dean of Marine Engineering, Reservist Lt. Charlie M. Pandongan, was promoted to commander while Master Mariner, Reservist Ensign Modesto Gubaton, was promoted to lieutenant commander.
Joining the two in the donning of ranks and oath-taking ceremonies held at the PN headquarters at Naval Station Jose Andrada, Roxas Blvd., Manila were:
*lawyer Henry Benjamin O. Kanapi III – Investigation Agent IV, National Bureau of Investigation, who was commissioned as commander;
*lawyer Suharto M. Ambolodto — member, Board of Trustees, International Center for Innovation and Excellence in Governance, commander;
*Reynaldo M. Rosas — Presidential Staff Officer VI, Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for General Administration, Office of the President of the Philippines, commander;
*Nolivienne C. Ermitaño — Assistant Director, Securities and Exchange Commission, commander;
*Maria Amber V. Hagada — Senior Environmental Management Specialist, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, commander;
*Ray R. Elevazo — Executive Director III, Cooperative Development Authority, Office of the President of the Philippines, commander;
*Sergio E. Yap II — Assistant Secretary, Department of Justice, lieutenant commander; and
*Jude Raul N. Manjares — fraud officer, S&FR Operations, HSBC, lieutenant.
Zata said the event was presided by Navy flag-officer-in-command, Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, who welcomed and lauded the reservists for their sense of volunteerism and commitment in serving the nation.
“We need you,” Zata said, noting that for the Philippine Navy to become strong and credible, it needs a strong and credible reserve force.
“(These Navy reservists are) our force multipliers. They are the ones who are helping us during HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations). They are the ones supporting us (in) all our undertaking as a Navy organization,” he added.
