By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has promoted at least 10 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials, Malacañang confirmed Wednesday.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released the names of PCG officials who have been promoted to the ranks of Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral.
Based on the list, Rear Admirals Joseph Coyme, Robert Patrimonio and Ronnie Gil Gavan now hold the rank of Vice Admiral, the second highest among PCG commissioned officers.
Coyme currently serves as the commander of the PCG’s Maritime Safety Services Command, while Patrimonio heads the Marine Environmental Protection Command, according to the organizational chart posted on the commission’s official website.
Gavan, on the other hand, is the PCG’s Deputy Commandant for Administration.
Commodores Gregorio Adel Jr., Eustacio Nimrod Enriquez Jr., Edgardo Hernando, Armando Balilo, Hostillo Arturo Cornelio, and Rudyard Somera have also been promoted as rear admirals, the roster of the newly-promoted PCG officials showed.
Adel, Enriquez and Hernando lead the PCG Inspector General and Internal Affairs Service, the Education Training and Doctrine Command and the Special Operations Force, respectively.
Balilo is the acting commander of the PCG Public Affairs Office, while Cornelio heads the Coast Guard District (CGD) National Capital Region-Central Luzon.
Torre serves as deputy commander of the PCG’s Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command, while Somera holds the director post for the Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center.
According to its official website, the PCG is the oldest and only humanitarian armed services of the Philippines. Its beginnings could be traced back to the early 20th century when coastguarding was related to the protection of the customs services of the country and patrolling the coastlines and harbors.
To date, the PCG is recognized as the third uniformed service of the country that also includes the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
The PCG is mandated and responsible to perform maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, maritime environmental protection and maritime security. (PNA)
