Duterte names Empedrad as Marina administrator

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Philippine Navy chief Robert Empedrad as the new administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Duterte appointed Empedrad on March 2, according to a list of presidential appointees released to the press on Wednesday.

Empedrad, who recently stepped down as Philippine Navy chief after reaching the mandatory retirement age, replaced Marina’s officer in charge Narciso Vingson Jr.

Apart from Empedrad, Duterte also appointed former Philippine Army chief Macairog Alberto as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, former Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. was reappointed as Special Envoy of the President for Intercultural Dialogue and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

De Venecia was first designated to the post in April 2017 and served until September of the same year.

The President extended the former House Speaker’s service in the same post twice when he was reappointed in October 2017 and October 2018.