‘Rumblings’ in the Navy over chief’s relief?

From Malaya Business Insight (Jan 3): ‘Rumblings’ in the Navy over chief’s relief?

THE military’s Board of Generals has recommended three senior Navy officers as Navy chief, to replace Vice Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado who was unceremoniously sacked last month.

The three are led by Rear Adm. Robert Empedrad who is the acting Navy chief in concurrent capacity as the AFP’s deputy chief of staff for retirees and reservists affairs.

A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the two others recommended by the board were Rear Adm. Giovanni Carlo Bacordo and Rear Adm. Rommel Ong.

Empedrad is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, whose members include PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa. Bacordo is from PMA Class 1987 and is commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command. Ong, also of PMA Class 1987, is the Navy’s inspector general.

The senior military officer said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is pushing for Empedrad who was named acting Navy chief after Mercado was relieved on December 19, but Empedrad “is not the most qualified” among the three.

The officer said there are “questions” about Empedrad’s qualifications “because he did not command any Naval Force (equivalent to Division in the Army).”

“(It should be) either Bacordo or Ong,” said the source. “They are definitely more qualified. Selection should be based on merit and qualification.”

The source said Empedrad “will further divide the Navy” and there are “rumblings” in the Navy over the frigate project and Mercado’s unceremonious relief.

Lorenzana said he recommended to President Duterte Mercado’s relief for ignoring his directives regarding the Navy’s frigate acquisition program. He said Mercado’s acts were tantamount to insubordination. He said Mercado had been pushing for a combat management system (CMS) produced by a French firm for two frigates being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries of Korea for P18 billion, including the weapons system and ammunition.

Lorenzana was against Mercado’s position, saying the installation of the CMS should be left to Hyundai which is reportedly set to install a cheaper and less capable CMS.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/%E2%80%98rumblings%E2%80%99-navy-over-chief%E2%80%99s-relief