Vice Admiral Joel Garcia is new PCG commandant

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President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Vice Admiral Joel Sarsiban Garcia as the new commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

According to the PCG’s news release on Tuesday, October 22, Garcia, who is currently deputy commandant for administration, is set to assume his new post as the PCG’s 28th commandant on Thursday.

His appointment was welcomed by the PCG.

“The Command is very thankful to the President for choosing a visionary leader who cares for the welfare of his subordinates and is passionate in accomplishing the PCG’s mandates,” PCG Spokesperson Captain Armando Balilo said.

The Palace also expressed confidence in Garcia’s ability to head the PCG.

“We are confident that the incoming commandant, a man of vast knowledge, competence and integrity, would continue to lead and advance the PCG to greater heights,” it said.

Garcia will replace Admiral Elson Hermogino who retires from his 38 years of service both in the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Balilo thanked Hermogino for “he steered the organization in achieving great feats towards the advancement of the Command.”

“Admiral Hermogino has truly served his entire military service with selfless devotion for the benefit of the Filipino nation,” he added.

A graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Garcia is also the executive director of the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC), and chairs the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Governing Council, based in Singapore.

The PCG added that Garcia also served as the chairman of the Committee on Islamic Religious Studies, and member of the Technical Panels in Humanities and Maritime Education respectively, of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) from 2003-2010.

He also commanded capital ships from both the Navy and the Coast Guard, held key positions at the headquarters, and led for coast guard districts, two functional commands, and two major support commands.