President Arroyo Appoints New Philippine Navy Commander

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines Inspector General Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga as the new flag-officer-in-command of the 22,000-strong Philippine Navy.Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga Mayuga is replacing Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon who has filed a terminal leave effective Sunday. A navy spokesman said the navy officers actually anticipated the appointment of Mayuga who he described as an exemplary officer. Mayuga has in the past served as co-director of Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercises that involve close to 5,000 Filipino and US troops annually. He also trained on Anti-submarine Warfare at the Fleet Combat Training Centers in Virgina Beach and San Diego, California in the 1980s.