President Duterte has appointed Vice Admiral Leopoldo Laroya as the new commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Laroya replaced Admiral George Ursabia Jr. who retired on Wednesday, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. He served in the Philippine Navy and PCG for 38 years..
The incoming commandant is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maringal” Class of 1988.
He completed his post-graduate studies at the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, and earned the degree of Masters in Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection in 2000.
Before Laroya was appointed as Coast Guard deputy command for operations, he served in various positions including the commander of the Maritime Safety Services Command, Coast Guard Education, Training and Doctrine Command, and Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command.
He also served as district commander of PCG districts in Western Visayas, Northwestern Luzon, Southwestern Mindanao, and Bicol.
Laroya earned the most coveted Command at Sea badge, as he commanded two flagship Coast Guard search and rescue vessels (SARV) namely: BRP Batangas (SARV-004) and BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV-3502).
The incoming commandant received numerous awards including Coast Guard Legion of Honor, Bronze Cross Medal, Outstanding Achievement Medals, Superior Achievement Medals, Coast Guard SAR Medals, and Military Merit Medals, among others.
Ursabia retired on Wednesday after served various positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PCG before President Duterte appointed him as the PCG commandant.
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