AFP welcomes Bordado as new Navy chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed yesterday the appointment of Rear Admiral Adeluis Bordado as the 39th chief of the Philippine Navy (PN).

Bordado, who was vice commander prior to his appointment, assumed the top Navy post during the change of command ceremony and retirement rites for Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo.

President Duterte thanked Bacordo for his service and contributions to the military’s upgrade efforts. “With the new chapter unfolding in your life, I wish you continued success and more meaningful years ahead,” Duterte said in a pre-recorded video message.

An accomplished naval officer, Bordado graduated fourth out of 135 cadets of Philippine Military Academy Maringal Class of 1988 and was commissioned as an ensign in the PN after graduation.

He rose from the ranks and distinguished himself in the fields of operations, intelligence, information technology, budget, planning and education and training.

“His designation came at the time that the Philippine Navy is vigorously pursuing its modernization program that includes acquisition programs for surface and sub-surface assets,” AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejena said.

Bordado also took up the Naval Officers Qualification Course ‘A’ at the Naval Training Command, Fort San Felipe, Cavite City and graduated top of his class.

He excelled at the Foreign Officer Supplementary List Executive Course at the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia; Basic Airborne Course (BAC 77-96) at Special Forces School; Naval Command and Staff Course (NCSC 44) at Naval Education and Training Command, Naval Intelligence Officer’s Course at the Naval Intelligence Training Institute; AFP Comptrollership Course 14; Command at Sea Course 3-06 at Fleet Training Center; Command and General Staff Course Class 48 at the AFPCGSC; Naval Command College at United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC Course 19-1c) at US Pacific Fleet in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Warning

Meanwhile, the United States military yesterday warned that China and Russia are using exploitative methods to expand influence.

“It is evident that China and Russia are seeking greater influence and stronger ties to nations in the region. Both nations try to exploit any perceived decline in US engagement to opportunistically establish and strengthen relationships,” US Central Command Commander, Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr. said at a special briefing Monday night.

“China engaged with nearly every country in the region in 2020, using exploitative debt traps, the Belt and Road Initiative and medical diplomacy with their vaccine, which has dubious efficacy, to try to expand its influence,” he added.

Restructuring the AFP

Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of National Defense (DND) to study a proposal to restructure the AFP and increase the country’s maritime forces.

“Our armed forces primarily consist of land forces. While we still do have internal security threats on land, I think there is no harm in studying how we can better equip our maritime forces, especially since China is not leaving our waters,” Hontiveros said.

She cited the proposal of UP professor Dr. Clarita Carlos to reform the structure of the AFP, noting that its current forces consists of 71 percent Army, 18 percent Navy (nearly half are Marines) and 11 percent Air Force – a configuration fit for a continental country rather than an archipelagic one. – Alexis Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe