Bordado is new Navy chief

PHILIPPINE NAVY  (PN) vice commander Rear Adm. Adeluis Bordado will take over of the PN's helm as its new chief, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said on Tuesday.  

"The AFP welcomes the designation of Rear Admiral Adeluis Bordado as the 39th Flag Officer in-Command of the Philippine Navy," Sobejana said in a message to reporters.

Bordado will replace Vice Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, who will bow out of the service on Wednesday upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. He will formally assume the Navy's top post in a change of command ceremony on Tuesday.

"Rear Admiral Bordado is an accomplished naval officer who rose to the hierarchy of the 123-year-old Philippine Navy passing through the different command, leadership, management, and staff positions -- not only in the Philippine Navy but in the AFP as well," Sobejana added.

Sobejana also said Bordado, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988, distinguished himself in the fields of operations, intelligence, information technology, budget, planning, and education and training.

He added that Bordado's designation is very timely as the PN is vigorously pursuing its modernization program that includes acquisition programs for surface and sub-surface assets.

"The wealth of his experience, his well-rounded education and training locally and abroad, and his personal attributes make him an excellent choice to lead the Philippine Navy at this time that the AFP faces various internal and external security challenges," the AFP chief said.

The Department of National Defense (DND) also welcomed Bordado's appointment as the new Navy chief.

"The One Defense Team looks forward to the assumption of Rear Admiral Bordado as we continue to modernize our Navy into a strong and capable force. We likewise thank Vice Admiral Bacordo for his service and countless contributions to the Defense Department and Armed Forces of the Philippines. We wish him all the best as he retires from service and transitions to civilian life," DND spokesperson Aresenio Andolong said in a statement. (Priam Nepomuceno)