AFP unit securing West Philippine Sea has new commander

Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria is named the next commander of the Western Command in Palawan, the military unit securing Philippine maritime territory in the West Philippine Sea. AFP PAO

MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria was named the next commander of the Western Command (Wescom) in Palawan, the military unit securing Philippine maritime territory in the West Philippine Sea.

Gloria relinquished his post as the deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

He will replace retiring Wescom commander Vice Admiral Rene Medina, the AFP said in a statement.

Gloria assumes command of the Wescom as China continues to advance its claims in the South China Sea in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His past assignments included: deputy chief of staff for personnel, J1; Wing Commander, 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing; deputy commander, Air Mobility Command; and deputy commander, Air Logistics Command.

He is also a tactical and rescue pilot with a command pilot rating in the Philippine Air Force. Early in his military career, he was awarded with different aircrew qualifications that range from pilot, element lead, flight commander, test pilot, and instructor pilot for the UH-1H and Bell 205.

He is also qualified as a pilot of the Sikorsky S-76A and logged more than 2,500 accident-free flight hours.

AFP Inspector General Lt. Gen. Antonio Ramon Lim replaced Gloria as the deputy chief of staff in an acting and concurrent capacity.

Medina, the current Wescom commander, will cap off his 38-year military career on Thursday (May 28).

Prior to taking over Wescom in March 2019, Medina served as the commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao. His unit played a key role in the war to expel Islamic State militants from Marawi City in 2017.

Edited by TSB