New Navy Western Mindanao chief installed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Philippine Navy chief installed Wednesday afternoon a new commander in its naval command in this port city to keep the government’s fight against terrorism and lawless activities in southern Philippines.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad installed Commodore Jorge Amba to replace Rear Admiral Premitivo Gopo, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class '83, who will retire from service on Friday as he reaches the mandatory age of retirement.

Amba, a member of PMA Class '85, took over the command as commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) during a formal ceremony inside the headquarters of the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Barangay Calarian.

Amba, formerly commander of Marine fleet and Northwest Command, had been assigned in Zamboanga City as intelligence officer in 1989 to track down cases of human trafficking.

Taccad credited Gopo, despite his short stint, in helping defeat the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan and Sulu as commander of the Joint Task Force Zambasulta.

Gopo described his five months and 15 days as Navy commander to be challenging and a litmus test for employing various tactics to run after the Abu Sayyaf and its terror cohorts behind the series of kidnappings and attacks.

Amba, for his part, vowed to continue the programs left by his predecessor and increase collaborations with stakeholders.