Leopoldo V. Laroya (1)

Coast Guard Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya (born February 11, 1966) is a Philippines Admiral who serves as the incumbent Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy "Maringal" Class of 1988. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Philippine Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations, the second highest position in the PCG.
==Early life and education==
He was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and finished his primary to secondary education in Don Bosco Makati. In his fourth year in high school, he qualified as an exchange student for Comfrey High School in Minnesota, USA. In 1982, he pursued his undergraduate studies in Geodetic Engineering at the University of the Philippines-Diliman before entering the Philippine Military Academy. He is a proud graduate of the “Maringal" class of 1988 and graduated in the upper percentile of their class (number 12 out of 135) in 1988. He was also a consistent Dean’s Lister and a recipient of the Engineering Sciences Award. He later pursued his post-graduate degree at World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden where he earned his Master of Science Degree in Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection (MSc, MSEP). He also attended various courses locally and abroad, such as the Port State Control Officer's Course in Yokohama, Japan in 1995 and in 2002, tthe 9th ASEAN Regional Forum Intercessional Meeting on Maritime Security in Jakarta, Indonesia; Maritime Policy and Maritime Risk Management and Responses to Disaster, and Oil Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention and Maritime Fire Protection in Sweden; 40th and 41st APEC Transportation Working Group in Hongkong and South Korea, respectively; 12th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies in Indonesia; ASEAN-Australia Civil Military Leaders Workshop in Australia, 7th Philippines-US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in the USA; Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies in Chile; International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities in Turkey; and the 48th APEC Transportation Working Group in Russia.
==Career==
Prior to his appointment as Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, CG ADM LAROYA was entrusted with various positions of major responsibilities in his more than 38 years of active service in the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Previously, he was the Deputy Commandant for Operations, the second highest position in the Philippine Coast Guard. He was also the Commander, Maritime Safety Services Command; Commander, Coast Guard Education and Training Command; Commander, Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command; Commander, Coast Guard District Western Visayas; Commander, Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao; Commander, Coast Guard District Northern Luzon; and, Commander, Coast Guard District Bicol.
Further, CG ADM LAROYA was delegated in vital positions to then, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). He became the Chief of Staff and was the Head Executive Assistant of the Office of the Secretary and Minister of the then DOTC Secretary, General Arturo “Boy” Tiongson Enrile (AFP Ret.) from 1997 to 1998. Thereafter, CG ADM LAROYA took the role of Chief of Staff of the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration and Staff Services of DOTC Usec. Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. from 1998 to 1999.
As a seasoned mariner with five years of sea experience, his sea duty tour includes junior billets served onboard the PCG ship “Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas” (BRP) Badjao (AE-59), a lighthouse tender and RPS Catanduanes PG-62, a Motor Gun Boat. He did his Executive Officer tour on board BRP Besang Pass (AU-100), a search and rescue (SAR) vessel. After such, he eventually commanded two Coast Guard SAR vessels: BRP Batangas (SARV-004) and BRP Nueva Vizcaya (SARV-3502), the last ship where he eventually completed his Command at Sea.
He also commanded two Coast Guard Stations, the Coast Guard Station General Santos and the Coast Guard Station Sarangani, and led Coast Guard Ready Force on September 2008 to September 2010, before commanding 4 Coast Guard Districts: the Coast Guard District Northern Luzon from October 2010 to February 2012, the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao from March 2012 to January 2015, the Coast Guard District Palawan from January 2015 to March 2016, and the Coast Guard District Central Visayas.</ref> He was promoted to the rank of Admiral on July 31, 2020.
==Awards==
* Award of the Coast Guard Outstanding Achievement Medal (7th) – May 2021
* Honorary Coast Guard Aviators Badge – March 2020
* Award of Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal and Ribbon (6th) – November 2019
* Award of Coast Guard Basic Instructor Badge – June 2019
* Award of Coast Guard Merit Medal and Ribbon (31st) – June 2015
* Award of the Coast Guard Superior Achievement Medal and Ribbon (3rd) – February 2012
* Award of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (10th) – February 2009
* Award of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Ribbon – January 2009
* Award of the Coast Guard Long Service ribbon with One Bronze Star - April 2008
* Initial Command at Sea Badge – January 2008
* Award of the Coast Guard Gawad sa Kaunlaran Medal (4th) – June 2006
* MEPCOM MARPOL Inspector’s Eligibility Badge (2nd) – September 2005
* Award of the Visayan Campaign Medal and Ribbon – March 2004
* CGDWV Coast Guard Station of the Year 2003, CGS Bacolod – June 2003
* Tinig ng Marino (Voice of Seafarers) Award 2002 for Maritime Safety - December 2002
* Award of the Military Bronze Cross Medal with 1st Bronze Leaf (2nd) – August 1996
* Presidential Unit Citation Badge
* Coast Guard Officer’s Qualification Badge
* EDSA Revolution Badge
* Award of Luzon Campaign Medal & Ribbon – November 1991
* Award of Visayan Campaign Medal & Ribbon – November 1991
* Award of Mindanao Campaign Medal & Ribbon – November 1991
* Civic Action Medal – November 1993
* Award of Disaster and Relief Operation Ribbon – November 1991
* Award of Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal & Ribbon – November 1991
==Personal life==
CG ADM LAROYA is the third generation general in his family being the grandson of the late Brigadier General Nicanor Velarde (PA) of PMA Class 1929, and the son of the late BGen Protacio Laroya of PMA class 1956. He is happily married to Miss Rowena Salomon Laroya of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan. They are blessed with one child, Lionel Zachary Laroya, a BS graduate of Medical Management and Human Resource Management (Major in Healthcare Administration) at University of California in Long Beach, CA, and is currently employed at the Benefits Division of California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) while pursuing his Master’s Degree on Business Management.
Category:People from the Philippines
Category:Philippine Coast Guard personnel
Category:1966 births
Category:Philippine Military Academy