Another member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988 has landed a top post in the country’s uniformed service. 

On September 8, Vice Admiral Leopoldo Laroya was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), one of the country’s maritime agencies securing Philippine waters. 

Specifically, his unit is “mandated and responsible to perform maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, marine environmental protection and maritime security.”

Qualifications as coast guard chief

• In 1983, Laroya entered the PMA with hopes of earning a military degree to serve in the armed forces. He finished his studies in 1988, making him a member of the Maringal Class.

• He also earned his Master in Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection at the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden. 

• Laroya is also a bemedalled coast guard officer. He has received the Coast Guard Legion of Honor, Bronze Cross Medal, Outstanding Achievement Medals, and Superior Achievement Medals. 

• He has also received Coast Guard Search and Rescue Medals and Military Merit Medals. 

• Laroya also received the highly coveted Command at Sea badge after commanding the two flagship vessels of the PCG: BRP Batangas (SARV-004) and BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV-3502). 

Where he served before

• Before being named as the 28th PCG commandant, Laroya served as the PCG’s deputy commandant for operations. 

• He also served as the commander of PCG Maritime Safety Services Command.

• Laroya also headed the Coast Guard Education, Training, and Doctrine Command.

• He was the former commander of the Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command. 

• The new PCG chief also headed PCG districts in Western Visayas, Northwestern Luzon, Southwestern Mindanao, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Bicol.

Controversy

• In its 2017 Annual Audit Report on the PCG, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged P818,531 worth of cash advances given to Laroya that were “disowned by suppliers.” 

• The COA said Laroya was issued with P3.9 million worth of cash advances in 2016 and liquidated them only in April 2017. However, state auditors still found P818,531 in cash advances with irregularities. 

• In a reply to the auditors, Laroya said he was “of the impression that all the liquidations documents that reached his office have no irregularity as his complex role as District Commander limits him from scrutinizing all the official receipts.”

Continuing the 1988 Maringal Class supremacy

• With the recent appointment of Laroya, the 1988 Maringal Class now holds the four highest positions in the military, as well as the coast guard. 

• His classmates include Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Jose Faustino Jr., Army chief Major General Andres Centino, Air Force chief Lieutenant General Allen Paredes, and Navy chief Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado.

• Since the military officers have a strong bond and loyalty to their class, the appointment of an officer to a key position in the military could influence the appointment of his classmates or “mistahs” to other positions. The practice has since been done by military officers over the years.

Why his appointment is relevant

• As the coast guard chief, Laroya will oversee the agency responsible for maritime search and law enforcement amid the continuous Chinese incursions in Philippine waters.

• As the Chinese threat in the West Philippine Sea intensifies, the PCG plays an important role in guarding and monitoring the country’s maritime features, as well as the Filipino fisherfolk. 

• Since the deployment of gray ships or military vessels are discouraged to avoid unnecessary tension in the waters, China has been using its coast guard and Chinese maritime militia ships to swarm Philippine maritime features. 

• As a response, the Philippines has also been sending PCG ships, including the vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to guard the area. 

• The PCG has so far been successful in its activities in the seas. Recently, the PCG warded off a Chinese navy ship off Marie Louise Bank near El Nido, Palawan. – Rappler.com