THE leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Saturday the appointment of Rear Admiral Edgar Abogado as the new commander of the military Central Command (Centcom).
Abogado, the current Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy, will assume the post of the Cebu-based command in a turnover ceremony Monday at Centcom.
AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa said that Abogado's appointment is part and parcel of “an AFP that continuously embarks on a sea of changes in further pursuit of a progressive and dynamic military organization.”
“The leadership movements in the AFP go side by side with the reform programs we are implementing as they are all headed to a horizon of new opportunities to surpass challenges and meet excellence. Let us heed these changes to do much better in performing our duties and responsibilities to the Filipino nation,” Dellosa added
Abogado will replace Major General JoseMabanta Jr. who has been heading Centcom in an acting capacity since Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano vacated the post in December. Alano is the current Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy while Mabanta is the current Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Mapitagan” Class of 1980, Abogado held important command positions in the Philippine Navy before his designation as its Vice Commander. He was Philippine Navy’s Chief of Naval Staff, Deputy Commander of the Philippine Fleet, and Commander of Assault Craft Force.
As an accomplished skipper, he commanded the following PN vessels: BRP Gen. Mariano Alvarez (PS 38), BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS 37), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), BRP Bagong Silang (PG 104), BRP Bagong Lakas (PG 102), BRP Liberato Picar (PG 377), and BRP Filipino Flojo (PG 386).
He is also a recipient of various awards and decorations among which are four Distinguished Service Stars, Gold Cross Medal, Distinguished Navy Cross, Outstanding Achievement Medal, 15 Military Merit Medals, three Military Commendation Medals, Senior Command at Sea Badge, GSC Distinguished Graduate Award, Silver Wing Medal, Command at Sea Plaque, and Logistics and Comptroller Eligibility. (SDR)