Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has appointed Vice Admiral Eduardo D. Fabricante as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer-in-charge following the retirement of Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya.
Tugade announced the appointment on Feb. 10 during the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony.
Prior to his appointment as PCG OIC, Fabricante was a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989 and served as Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations.
During the event, Tugade expressed his gratitude to Laroya and recognized PCG's sustained coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and calamity response.
“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 (The country and its people are thanking you for your service and contribution for the nation’s sustenance),” Tugade said.
“Ang serbisyo na iyon ay isang naging malaking kadahilanan kung bakit ‘yong Philippine Coast Guard ay narating ang kanyang narating nitong mga nakaraang taon (That service is the reason why PCG has reached its status now),” he added.
Likewise, Laroya thanked the DOTr's support for PCG.
"We owe it to you for what is the Philippine Coast Guard right now. 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," Laroya said.