MANILA, Philippines – Rear Adm. Geronimo Defensor took over the helm of the Philippine Fleet in a ceremony held at Sangley Point in Cavite City yesterday.
Defensor, who was installed into office by navy chief Vice Adm. Ferdinand Golez, replaced Philippine Fleet acting chief Commodore Feliciano Angue.
Under his command are 94 naval vessels and other floating assets, 17 aircraft and more than 4,000 officers, men and women manning the Philippine Fleet.
The unit oversees the operations of these equipment in support of the military’s combat and non-combat missions all over the country.
Defensor and Golez are both members of Philippine Military Academy Class 1976, along with Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano.
Defensor would also be tasked to organize, train, equip and maintain fleet forces for naval operations, in close coordination with ground operations of the Marines under the Fleet-Marine Concept.
The military would now have to rely heavily on the Navy to transport troops and equipment following the crash of the Air Force C-130 last month. – James Mananghaya