MANILA — Five senior officers at the Philippine Coast Guard have been shortlisted to replace Admiral Artemio Abu as commandant, the PCG said Wednesday.

Abu will retire on Oct. 19, 2023 after 37 years of public service, the Coast Guard said. He served as the armed uniformed service's chief for 18 months.

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Coast Guard spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the following have been nominated to replace Abu:

• Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan
• Vice Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan
• Vice Admiral Joseph Coyme
• Vice Admiral Allan Victor Dela Vega
• Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria

“The five candidates will undergo series of interviews and will face the senior leadership of the Department of Transportation before endorsing their names to the Office of the President," said Balilo.

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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. can still choose other qualified flag officers in the Philippine Coast Guard aside from the 5 nominees, he added.

Abu is part of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992.

Before becoming a commandant, Abu was the task force commander of the PCG's Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan, which helps patrol and protect life and property in the country's waters.

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