
Five names were floated to replace outgoing Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu, it was bared on Friday, Sept. 22.
Abu is set to retire on Oct. 19 after serving as the 29th PCG chief for 18 months or since March 1, 2022.
PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said that five senior officers are vying to succeed him namely Vice Adm. Rolando Lizor Punzalan, Vice Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, Vice Adm. Joseph Coyme, Vice Adm. Allan Victor Dela Vega, and Vice Adm. Roy Echeverria.
After Abu, Punzalan and Gavan hold the second and third highest positions in the PCG hierarchy, respectively.
Punzalan is currently the PCG Deputy Commandant for Operations and is the most senior among the five nominees, being a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Tanglaw Diwa Class of 1992.
Meanwhile, Gavan is the third man and serves as the PCG Deputy Commandant for Administration. He is a product of PMA Maalab Class of 1993.
Also belonging to PMA Class of 1993 are Dela Vega and Echeverria, who are both part of the PCG Central Staff.
Dela Vega is the commander of Weapons, Electronics and Information Systems while Echeverria serves as the commander of Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command and director of the National Coast Watch Center.
Lastly, Coyme is part of the PCG Functional Command as he is the commander of the Maritime Services Command. He belongs to the PMA Bantay Laya Class of 1994.
“The five candidates will undergo series of interviews and will face the senior leadership of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) before endorsing their names to the Office of the President,” Balilo shared.
However, Balilo clarified that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can still choose a “dark horse” or an officer outside of the list of nominees.
"But the President who will appoint the Commandant, aside from the five nominees, can still choose from the qualified flag rank officers of the PCG,” he said.