Calunsag named new Navy chief

President Arroyo has appointed Rear Admiral Rogelio Calunsag as the new Navy flag-officer-in-command to succeed Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, who retired yesterday upon reaching the age of 56, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday.

Calunsag is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1974 and was Armed Forces Inspector General prior to his appointment.

Rear Adm. Petronilo Magno, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for electronics and information systems, and Rear Adm. Emilio Marayag, chief of naval staff, were also among those who had aspired for the post.

Subordinate officers earlier said they would support any of the three contenders for the helm of the Navy.

The announcement ended speculations on who would succeed Mayuga and eased the fears of many senior and junior Navy officers over the rumored appointment of Western Command chief Vice Adm. Tirso Danga.

Danga was among the senior military officials who lawmakers said has yet to explain the circumstances behind the "Hello, Garci" scandal, in which alleged taped conversations between Mrs. Arroyo and former Commission on Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano on the conduct of the 2004 presidential elections were leaked to the public.

Unlike other retiring officers, Mayuga bowed out of the military service with an assured government job waiting for him.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Mayuga is likely to be rewarded with another government post for serving well in the Navy.

"You have run the race well and kept the faith. Try to enjoy your short break before embarking on another voyage," Ermita said in his speech, addressing Mayuga.

On behalf of the President, Ermita presided over the Navy turnover of command between Mayuga and Calunsag.

When asked if Mayuga would be appointed as the next defense secretary, Ermita said that he does not yet know what government post Mayuga will be assigned to by the President.

"I don’t know yet," Ermita said. There were reports that the President offered the top defense portfolio, now vacant after the resignation of former secretary Avelino Cruz Jr.

Besides the top post, six other key positions — defense undersecretaries and assistant secretary — at the Department of National Defense were also rendered vacant also because of the departure of the defense team brought in by Cruz when he assumed the top DND post two years ago.

Mayuga has refused to confirm or deny that the President offered him the job of defense secretary.

"Magbabakasyon muna ako. Dati ‘yes, sir’ tayo, pero ngayon ‘sir ma’am’ na ako ngayon (I’m going to go on vacation first. Before we used to say ‘yes, sir,’ but now I go ‘sir ma’am’)," Mayuga said, referring to his wife’s desire to go on a family vacation.

An emotional Mayuga handed over the Navy’s command saber to Calunsag and said in his farewell speech that he took pride in his major accomplishments as Navy chief, adding that he is leaving the Navy at its best.

He said his "out of the box concepts," when he assumed command of the Navy, effectively reshaped ideas which in turn were translated into action.

"You have taken Fleet-Marine Operations to the next level and brought the Navy far beyond anything I ever dreamed possible," Mayuga said.

Holding back tears, Mayuga also said that while he did not take pride in driving out retired officers and retired enlisted men from the Bonifacio Naval Station (BNS), the move gave justice to the officers and enlisted personnel on active duty who are homeless.

"It was my commitment to you that I will recover real estate — including housing units at the Bonifacio Naval Station — that we lost either by operation of law or through spurious claims of vested interest groups," Mayuga said.

After over 14 years of struggle, the Navy under Mayuga’s leadership finally regained full control of most of the housing units in the Navy Officers Village, the Junior Officers Quarters and the Married Enlisted Quarters of the BNS.

"I take this occasion, therefore, to thank and commend each and every one of you for your firm resolve and indispensable support in clearing BNS of unauthorized occupants," Mayuga said.

He was well-applauded when said: "Lest I be misunderstood, I do not take pride in evicting our retirees from the housing quarters at the Bonifacio Naval Station. I only wanted justice to be served — and justice, to me, means giving someone what is his due."

Before ending his speech, Mayuga also thanked his family, President Arroyo and Cruz for their unwavering support.

Calunsag said in his acceptance speech said he will focus on making life less miserable for sailors serving aboard the Navy’s ships.

Calunsag was a classmate of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon at the Manila Science High School and the PMA Class of 1974.

His appointment as the 29th Navy chief was only announced yesterday, following reports of intense lobbying by other Navy officers.