President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has promoted four Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Captains to the next higher rank of ‘Commodore’ based on the recommendation of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade.

In the transmittal papers sent by the Office of the President to the Office of the Transportation Secretary on 15 October 2021, the Chief Executive gave his go signal for the promotion of:

1) CG Captain Ramon S Lopez

2) CG Captain Joeven L Fabul

3) CG Captain Edgar L Ybañez

4) CG Captain Mitzie S Silva-Campo

CG Commodore Lopez currently serves as the Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Human Resource Management Command. He hailed from Legazpi City, Albay and was part of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1992. He also graduated from the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden with a major in Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management in 2007.

After accomplishing his assignments aboard Coast Guard vessels, CG Commodore Lopez performed staff duties in the PCG District Southeastern Mindanao and PCG District Central Visayas. He also served as Station Commander of PCG Stations in Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Bohol, Southern Leyte and Ormoc. Moreover, he acted as Superintendent of the Coast Guard School and Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard Ready Force.

Prior to his present position, CG Commodore Lopez also acted as Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Human Resource Management (CG-1), Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Logistics (CG-4), and Deputy Inspector General.

CG Commodore Fabul from Buhi, Camarines Sur graduated from the PMA in 1992. He earned his Master of Science in Maritime Affairs specializing in Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection at the WMU in 2004.

Before being appointed as Commander of the Coast Guard Finance Service, he served as Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Comptrollership (CG-6), Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard Fleet, Commander of the Coast Guard Procurement Service, as well as Commander of PCG Stations in Sorsogon and Butuan City.

He also fulfilled his sea duty experience aboard search and rescue (SAR) vessels, BRP Tirad Pass (SAR-100) and BRP Bessang Pass (SAR-75).

CG Commodore Ybañez from Quezon City was part of the PMA Class of 1993. He currently serves as District Commander of the PCG District Western Visayas after his assignment as Commander of the PCG District Northeastern Luzon and Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Surface Support Force. He also performed various duties at the Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection Command, Coast Guard Education, Training, and Doctrine Command, and the PCG National Headquarters.

Furthermore, CG Commodore Ybañez was assigned as Station Commander of PCG Stations in Bacolod City, Caticlan and Dumaguit in Aklan, as well as in Basco, Batanes. He is a holder of ‘Command at Sea Badge’ for serving as commanding officer of three PCG capital ships.

CG Commodore Silva-Campo is a native of Digos City, Davao del Sur who earned her master’s degree major in Law and Policy at the WMU in 2009. She is the first female flag rank officer from the Davao region and the entire Mindanao, as well as the first PCG female general line officer to be promoted to Commodore.

CG Commodore Silva-Campo is presently the Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Maritime Security Services (CG-14).  Before her present assignment, she served as Commander of the Coast Guard Internal Audit Service and was designated as the Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Education and Training.

From March 2016 to June 2019, CG Commodore Silva-Campo was deployed as the country’s representative in the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia – Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP - ISC), a government international organization based in Singapore.

The said one-star generals will take oath to DOTr Secretary Tugade next week. Their arrival honors and breaking of personal flags ceremonies will ensue thereafter.