Then Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez gives a traditional “talk to men” to the soldiers station in Pag-asa Island, one of the Philippine detachments in Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). FILE PHOTO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named former Energy Undersecretary Alexander Lopez—who previously led a military command charged with defending the West Philippine Sea—as the spokesperson for the National Maritime Council (NMC).
In a statement on Friday, Malacañang said Lopez was appointed on Aug. 6 as the NMC’s spokesperson, more than four months after the President created the body in March this year.
READ: Ex-military official Lopez named as National Maritime Council spokesman
“Lopez, a former military officer, will speak on behalf of the NMC on issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea,” the Presidential Communications Office said.
The NMC was created through Executive Order No. 57. It is chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Finance, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation, Office of the Solicitor General and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.