Philippine Navy Headquarters, Roxas Boulevard, City of Manila
February 3, 2020

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte conveyed his deepest gratitude to outgoing Philippine Navy (PN) Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad for his decades of remarkable service to the country in a Retirement Ceremony at the Philippine Navy Headquarters in Naval Station Jose V. Andrada (NSJVA) in Roxas Boulevard, City of Manila.

“Your tenure at the helm of our Navy will be remembered for fostering a dependable and credible naval force that our maritime nation can truly be proud of,” said President Duterte.

“Let me take this occasion to acknowledge your more than three decades of professional career in the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” the President added.

Under the leadership of Vice Admiral Empedrad, the Philippine Navy managed to get the biggest budget share from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, acquiring 11 marine vessels, eight (8) amphibious vehicles and seven (7) aircrafts in total.

Likewise, the Commander-in-Chief expressed his full trust to the new head of the Navy, Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, who vowed to modernize the system, platforms, equipment and mindsets of the sailors in the Philippine Navy’s Change of Command ceremony.

“Admiral Bacordo, I am confident that our Navy under your leadership will continue to achieve more milestones in the campaign to protect the freedoms and democratic values that we hold dear,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

President Duterte also promised that his administration would give its full support to the Philippine Navy under Rear Admiral Bacordo’s new leadership by further enhancing its capabilities to pursue a more peaceful future.

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