Duterte appoints Bordado as next Philippine Navy chief

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Philippine Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Adeluis Bordado as the Navy’s new Flag Officer in Command.

Bordado, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988, will succeed Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, who stepped down on Tuesday (June 8), a day before he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will preside over the change of command ceremony at the Navy headquarters in Manila.

Bordado will serve for at least 15 months until his mandatory retirement age. Some of his previous assignments were as naval chief of staff, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Education, training and Doctrine Command and head of Naval Installation Command.

AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana welcomed the designation of Bordado, saying the naval officer distinguished himself in the fields of operations, intelligence, information technology, budget, planning, and education and training.

“His designation came at the time that the Philippine Navy is vigorously pursuing its modernization program that includes acquisition programs for surface and sub-surface assets,” Sobejana said.

Bordado was the only officer recommended by the Board of Generals to Lorenzana and Duterte.

Bacordo, in his final press conference as Navy chief on Monday (June 7), advised his successor to continue building the Navy’s capacity in terms of personnel and hardware.

“One challenge as a force provider is how can we address these delays in the sustainment of our vessels, that’s the biggest, and another is the training of our personnel,” he said.

The next Navy chief should also give priority to enforcing policies that are for the good of the service.

“Regarding policies, regarding implementation of the policies…sometimes there are policies that may run counter to the individual and benefit the organization,” Bacordo said in his last speech.

“If this happens, prioritize always the organization,” he said.

“In 10 years, 20 years, our senior officers will be gone, but in 20 years, 100 years, 200 years the Navy will still be there,” Bacordo said. “So in terms of conflict between what is good for our personnel and what is good for the organization, always prioritize what is good for the organization,” he said.

TSB