Empedrad vacates post as Marina chief

Empedrad vacates post as Marina chief
Yashika F. Torib July 6, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/07/06/business/maritime/empedrad-vacate...

VICE Admiral Robert Empedrad officially vacated his post on Thursday, June 30, as the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator. Empedrad's two-year term in Marina ended following the issuance of Memorandum Circular 1 (2022) dated 30 June 2022 from the Office of the President declaring vacant certain positions in the departments, offices, agencies, and bureaus in the executive department.

"It has been a challenging but beautiful and fulfilling two years of my life serving the Filipino seafarers and the whole industry. I serve with my heart and with wisdom from the Lord amidst the pandemic and other challenges of the industry.

I am signing off expressing my heartfelt gratitude to you all for making my life great. God bless our maritime nation," Empedrad said on the messaging service app for Marina's press corps.

It was during Empedrad's term as Marina chief when the country was affected by Covid-19, urging the administration to successfully spearhead programs to ease and safely deploy and repatriate seafarers.

Empedrad was a former Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command before he was appointed Marina administrator on March 2, 2020.

He took over the post vacated by former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff and retired general Rey Leonardo Guerrero who was then appointed as Bureau of Customs chief.