Vice Admiral Fabricante named PCG OIC as Commandant Admiral Laroya retires

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Transportation Secretary Art Tugade has appointed Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante as Officer-In-Charge of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with the retirement of Commandant Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya as the 28th PCG Commandant.Secretary Tugade announced the appointment during the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony today, 10 February 2022.

Vice Admiral Fabricante is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989 and served as Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations before his appointment as the PCG OIC.

Secretary Tugade commended Commandant Laroya for his over 38 years of public and government service. He added that under Laroya’s leadership, the men and women of the PCG have united in the service of the country and of the Filipino people amid the COVID-19 pandemic and calamities.

“Commandant Laroya please accept the gratitude, the sincerest gratitude of a grateful nation. Nagpapasalamat ang bansa at mga tao pagkat ang iyong serbisyo ay nag-contribute nang malaki sa pagkakaroon ng isang matatag na bayan. ‘Pagkat ang serbisyo na iyon ay isang naging malaking kadahilanan kung bakit ‘yung Philippine Coast Guard ay narating ang kanyang narating nitong mga nakaraang taon,” Secretary Tugade said.

During his speech, Secretary Tugade recognized PCG's sustained COVID-19 response, supporting the whole-of-government efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country. Among these initiatives include the assistance of PCG personnel in the daily operations of the One-Stop-Shops (OSS) at airport terminals.

Secretary Tugade also commended the PCG’s calamity response operations, particularly at the height of Typhoon Odette’s onslaught. The PCG not only rendered assistance to affected residents, it also conducted search, rescue, and evacuation operations.

Meanwhile, Secretary Tugade also recognized the efforts of Admiral Laroya in furthering the modernization of the PCG as he continued with the expansion of the Coast Guard's workforce, including the PCG Auxiliary.

“Ang Philippine Coast Guard ngayon, na kung saan ang kabuuan ay nasa 21,000 na kumpara noong 2016 – kung saan nagsimula ang termino ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte – na 7,000 lang po. Ngayon makikita mo ang Coast Guard hindi lang sa baybayin o karagatan. Makikita n’yo ang Philippine Coast Guard sa bawat sulok of the archipelagic nation of the Republic, sa bawat bagyo at unos, pati na ‘ho sa airport, pati sa kalsada makikita mo ‘yung Philippine Coast Guard,” Secretary Tugade added.

In his valedictory address, Admiral Laroya took pride in serving the country, saying: “I now bow out of service with pride in knowing that I have served my country well.”

The retired PCG Commandant then expressed his gratitude to Secretary Tugade for his support to the PCG.

“We owe it to you for what is the Philippine Coast Guard right now. Secretary Tugade, Sir, it is just befitting that you will be remembered as the ‘Father of the Philippine Coast Guard.’ You made all of these happen and we are truly grateful for the support that you have provided for the development of the Philippine Coast Guard,” Admiral Laroya remarked.

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