Navy’s Empedrad says Marine Corps chief won’t retire early, denies bad blood

Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad on Sunday said that Marine Corps chief Major General Alvin Parreño will not be going on early retirement, as had earlier been reported, and also denied that there is bad blood between them that led Parreño to let go of his post.

“Hindi siya [magre-retire], he will be assigned sa office ng flag officer in command until mag-retire siya ng March next year,” Empedrad said in a phone interview.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Noel Clement earlier told reporters that Parreño had expressed the intention to retire ahead of schedule for personal reasons. 

Speculations that Parreño wanted to retire early due to differences with Empedrad are untrue, the Navy chief added.

“‘Yung sinasabing differences, wala namang problema ‘yun kasi lahat naman ng opisyal meron akong differences. Hindi naman laging pare-parehas, ‘di ba? Pero ako, we are very professional enough to deal with differences so okay naman ang nangyari,” he explained.

Empedrad said the only issue he recalls having with Parreño was regarding the latter’s request for the separation of Marines from the Navy, but they have since “resolved” their differences.

In the end, the Marines were not granted the separation but they were instead made a key budgetary unit of the Navy, giving them authority over their own finances.

“Okay kami. I think I am okay and he is okay, wala namang problema, ikinakabit lang nila dun sa separation but tapos na kasi e, na-decide nang hindi na maghihiwalay kasi kung maghihiwalay e magugulo lang ‘yung Navy,” Empedrad said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News