The path to becoming the 37th Flag Officer in Command was one set upon by VADM Robert A Empedrad AFP without full intention. In fact, several times in the course of his long career, his plan had not God’s plan.
“It’s not my intention to join the PMA. Gusto ko talaga maging (I really wanted to be) an electronic engineer,” said Vice Admiral Robert Arugay Empedrad AFP. He wistfully recounted enjoyment of tinkering with electronic equipment as a young boy. But then his father enrolled him to civil engineering in Saint Louis University, Baguio City. Unable to fully commit himself to the course, he opted to go into the Philippine Military Academy instead, where he dreamt of joining the Philippine Constabulary (PC). When cadets were placed into the major services through lottery, the young Empedrad pulled out a pingpong ball that said “Navy”. Disappointed but undaunted, he made a deal with another equally famous classmate – Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was then an aspiring marine but whose pingpong ball would lead him to the PC. Clearly, the Navy was not his first love.
“I’ll think about it first,” was his classmate’s response, giving Cadet Empedrad time to consult his own family. There was a one in ten chance that a cadet would be placed in the PN. “Why switch? That must be God’s will for you” they said adamantly. That night, when Cadet dela Rosa came knocking to his barracks room to exchange pingpong balls, it was the young Empedrad who had seconds thoughts. Foregoing his desires and trusting God’s will, he set off to become an officer of the Philippine Navy. “He became the Chief PNP, and I became the Chief of the Navy. And the rest is history.”
Yet, being at the helm of the PN was far from VADM Empedrad’s career plans. Before being called upon as Navy Chief, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retirees Affairs, J9. His projection was to retire as J9, and thus proceeded to plan 15 strategic initiatives to empower the reserve force, which would be implemented in the last years of his service. His high regard for reservists is practical and logical. VADM Empedrad recognized challenges of the dynamic traditional and non-traditional security environment, and that the current strength of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cannot possibly serve more than 100 million Filipinos. Reservists are force multipliers of the organization. “The reserve force is our hope,” he emphasized. The statement summarizes why VADM Empedrad has turned into one of the most active champions for AFP reservists.
His stint as J9 was not meant to last, however. On December 19, 2017, his plans were once again thrown off center and he was called to serve as the 37th Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy.
Value-Driven Leadership
“To become the Chief of the Navy is a privilege and honor that is given to few people… I am the 37th Flag Officer in Command in the more than hundred and twenty years of existence of the Navy,” VADM Empedrad says emphatically. He reciprocates the privilege and honor of the position not only by serving competently, but by adhering and upholding the values of the organization. VADM Empedrad, even as a young officer, is steadfast in these values. His career is marked by his unyielding commitment to battle and win against corruption, in an organization that is vulnerable to it. He recounted a time that, as a junior officer aboard ship, he was ordered to sell excess fuel. He refused, despite knowing that his life would be made miserable for declining to comply. “Three different commanders asked me to sell our savings in fuel. Three times, I said no. You cannot do that as long as I’m your engineering officer… The challenge is, against the usual trend, “how do you say no.”
The opportunities to put personal gain over the mission were numerous. “There was even a time in Mindanao when smugglers were giving money to the ships so they will not patrol and they can come in. Binigyan kami ng pera, yung ship ko (My ship was given money). They give money every week. We returned the money and said, “I don’t care, we will catch you.” It would have been easy to just accept the bribe; PN ships then were mostly old, slow, and rusty, fueled only by the steely resolve of its commanders and crew.
He remains uncompromising when it comes to his war on corruption. “JO palang ako sa barko pag mali I say no. Ganun na ako e. Ganun na ang naging buhay ko. Ngayon pa kaya na FOIC ako (When I was still a junior officer aboard ship, if something is wrong, I say no. That is how I am. That is how I live my life. What more now that I am FOIC?).” Being FOIC meant being tempted with millions of pesos worth of bribes, all of which he turned down. Even his sharp focus on modernizing the legacy navy cannot sway him from his values. “I’d like the Navy to modernize with the right values.”
Behind the Uniform
The personality behind the position is fuel to the vast and intricate mechanism of the position of FOIC and, indeed, behind any leadership position in a complex organization such as the PN. Robert Empedrad is a man of God and a man of the family, whose love for his wife and son is comparable to his concern and regard for PN personnel under his care.
He recounted how his values were shaped by his family. His father, an executive in the Bureau of Forestry, turned down a request made by a powerful individual to allow illegal loggers conduct illicit business. The repercussion was harsh: his father was not given a position he was vying for, despite being the most qualified man for the job. The consequences of doing good was made clear to the young Empedrad, but he nevertheless chose to imbibe those values. Despite this, he maintains that upbringing was not enough. “I became a Christian in 1988. I became a different person altogether.” His entire life shifted to doing the right thing based on the Bible. His commitment to his faith has even prompted him to become a teacher of the Word of the Lord.
“I only have one son. Habang bata sya, lumalaki sya, hindi ko sya nakikita (While he was young, he was growing up, I did not get to see him)… at that time wala pa ngang (there was not even a) cellphone … You can’t even say hi to your family, say I love you.” The way he values his family extends to how he manages his people. Despite being an organization that must be ready to sacrifice everything for the country, he reminds PN personnel that the primary reason one works is to help their own families. The “no weekend work” guidance has become a staple for his staff.
Dream for 2028
“How can you protect a coastline that is twice longer than that of the United States? How can you protect the vast water that is seven times larger than your land mass with old ships?” His experience in operations as well as the perspectives he gained in his schooling and engagement with naval counterparts abroad propelled his desire to see the PN as strong, capable, and modern.
His focus on modernization and capability building provided the much-needed thrust to expedite the modernization of the PN. The PN’s strongest warship, BRP Conrado Yap, which boasts a comprehensive range of weapons system arrived during his term. It was also the first time the PN is able to utilize the ship-borne surface-to-surface Strike ER missile system. The PN is also ahead in building capability for cybersecurity, being the first major service to develop a Field of Specialization for the cyberwarriors of the organization. Through the FOIC, PN, the defense organization invested on the training of PN personnel who will one day command and man submarine capabilities. The way forward to a modern PN is slowly becoming a reality.VADM Empedrad, however, still believes that the PN has a long way to go towards becoming a much stronger naval force, citing the need to be able to manufacture, maintain, and repair organic assets, thus highlighting the lack of ship building facilities of the PN.
With much to be done, VADM Empedrad’s work sets the stage for succeeding PN leaders who will commandeer the organization towards its next developmental waypoint. And this work embodies his dream: to see the PN close the capability gap between the organization and its foreign counterparts.
VADM Robert A Empedrad retires from service in February 2020. While his accomplishments have clearly benefited the organization’s development towards strength and credibility, it is the personality behind the uniform that will imprint upon his legacy as the PN’s Chief. Truly, the man can be described in three phrases: unyielding in his values and principle, father and provider, and servant-leader to both nation and God.