Four contenders for top Navy post

From Malaya Business Insight (Nov 3): Four contenders for top Navy post

FOUR senior Navy officers, including AFP Western Command chief Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado, are being groomed to succeed retiring Navy chief Vice Adm. Caesar Taccad.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the contenders are well qualified to replace Taccad, who is bowing out of the service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Nov. 13.

Mercado supervises all military operations in Palawan, including the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. The Spratly Islands is claimed by the Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

Mercado is the more senior among the three other four contenders. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1983, whose members include AFP chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya and Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano, among others.

Arevalo named the three other contenders as Navy vice commander Rear Adm. Rafael Mariano and Navy Philippine Fleet chief Rear Adm. Bayani Gaerland, both of the PMA class 1984; and Naval Education and Training Command chief Rear Adm. Narciso Vingson of the PMA class 1985.

Arevalo said Taccad, a member of PMA class 1982, will relinquish his post to his successor on Nov. 12, a day before his retirement. Taccad assumed the top Navy post in August last year.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/four-contenders-top-navy-post