(Eagle News) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines has relieved the Navy chief from his post.
Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado was replaced by Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve and Retirees Affairs.
Details of the relief of Mercado, who was set to retire in March 2018, remain unclear.
Colonel Edgar Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, said the reasons behind the sudden relief of Mercado—ordered by the “higher-ups”– would be explained “in due time.”