Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace
May 6, 2025
“What you are doing is not only protecting territory. What you are doing is not only protecting citizens. You are defining for the rest of the world the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. And having done so, you are defending that territory. That is the importance of what the job has become for Philippine Coast Guard,” stated President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the oath-taking ceremony of 29 newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) flag rank officers at the Ceremonial Hall in Malacañan Palace.
In his speech, President Marcos Jr. highlighted the PCG’s achievements, including conducting 2.7 million inspections and over 45,000 missions in the past year. He emphasized their vital role in ensuring maritime safety, environmental protection and sovereignty, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
The President also commended their response to incidents such as the MT Terra Nova oil spill and their law enforcement efforts, which included over 33,000 sea marshaling operations and the apprehension of nearly 600 individuals engaged in illegal activities.
“Your continued patrols across the Kalayaan Island Group, the Philippine Rise, and our other maritime zones reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our sovereign rights… The missions are declarations: we will always stand for what is ours, and we will do so with dignity, with integrity, [and] with strength,” he stated.
He further highlighted the strategic patrols, joint international efforts with allies like the United States (U.S.) and Japan, and the distribution of high-speed boats, demonstrating the Philippines’ resolve to uphold sovereignty and ensure freedom of navigation.
Addressing the newly promoted officers, the Commander-in-Chief called on them to lead with humility, purpose and courage, saying, “This ceremony is a covenant. It is a declaration that your country now entrusts you with greater responsibility, and expects greater sacrifice to make a legacy that we can uphold… Your promotions are not merely steps in your careers — they are steps forward for yourselves, for the Coast Guard, but also for the nation.”
This event marked the promotion of two (2) Vice Admirals, eight (8) Rear Admirals and 19 Commodores, all promoted in 2024 and 2025.
President Marcos Jr. also paid tribute to Seawoman Second Class Dain Janica Rendoque Alinas, one of the casualties, including her husband, in the tragic road accident involving multiple vehicles at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) toll plaza on Labor Day. She is survived by her two-year-old son, who miraculously survived the accident strapped to his car seat.
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