Rear Admiral Robert Empredad, acting Philippine Navy Acting Flag Officer in Command, assures Thursday the acquisition of the country’s first two missile armed frigates is still on track despite the sudden change of leadership.

“The frigate is not been delayed, it is continues and the delivery time is still the same and we are going to process that,” Empedrad said. “It should be delivered first quarter of 2020,” he added.

The contract for acquisition of two frigates worth 18 billion pesos was signed by the Department of National Defense and Hyundai Heavy Industries last year.

Empedrad admitted there are a lot of changes that they still need to address.

“It’s within the timeline and we're going to facilitate and ensure that... because there are a lot of problem in frigates, on how to prepare the Philippine Navy for the frigate is the most important one… Who will be the personnel that will man the frigate? Where do get the missile and the torpedo that’s two years to manufacture so we have to process that,” he said.

Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado who supposed to retire as Navy Flag Officer in command on March 2018 was replaced by Empedrad Tuesday.

Mercado was relieved from his post after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana lost his trust and confidence in the former's integrity related to the frigate acquisition program of the Philippine Navy. Robina Asido/DMS