A former military officer has been consistently rocking the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) world after making history again as the first-ever two-star general of the agency in charge of the country’s maritime security.
After etching her name as the first ever female general in the PCG history in October 2021, Mitzie Silva-Campo added another feather to her cap after she was promoted to Rear Admiral, a two-star rank, by President Marcos on March 25.
Silva-Campo took her oath before Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon on March 31.
PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan PCG, lauded Silva-Campo, as he emphasized how this historical milestone proves the Coast Guard’s strong advocacy on women empowerment by providing equal opportunities to both men and women in service.
“She stands as proof that a woman can rise to lead with excellence, break barriers, and help move a nation forward,” said Gavan.
For her part, Silva-Campo shared that she considers leadership as a privilege and a responsibility, earned through trust, built on hard work, and proven in service.
"Because at the end of the day, it's never about the rank. It is about how well you lead, how much you serve, and how deeply you care," she said.
Who is she?
Silva-Campo began her career as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) before transferring to the PCG with a bang after she topped the Coast Guard Officers Course Class-1 Charlie-“Makagitaw,”
She is a law graduate at the Cor Jesu College in Digos City and earned her Master of Science in Maritime Affairs, specializing in Maritime Law and Policy, from the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden (Class of 2009).
Within the PCG, she has held several key leadership positions, as the first female Inspector General of the Coast Guard Inspector General-Internal Affairs Service, Coast Guard Adjutant, Commander of Coast Guard Doctrine, Development and Research Command.
She served as the Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff (DCCS) for Maritime Security Law Enforcement (CG-14) and DCCS for Education and Training (CG-12) and Operations Officer of the then Coast Guard Operating Forces (CGOF).
She was seconded to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and served as Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Operations and later posted to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia – Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP-ISC), based in Singapore, where she served for over three years.
Since 2020, she has actively served as Head of the Philippine Delegations in a series of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) initiatives, including the Maritime Law Enforcement Dialogue (MLED) and the Women in Maritime Law Enforcement (WinMLE), alongside counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.