Inabangnon is now Navy Rear Admiral

COMMODORE Margarito Villamor Sanchez, Jr., AFP, an Inabangnon, was recently promoted to Rear Admiral, a rank equivalent to the army's major general. Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally conferred the award to the Boholano Commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NASSCOM) on 17 October 2006. Nasscom is the Philippine Navy's leading edge in maintaining the operational readiness of naval warships. Rear Admiral Sanchez, who graduated from the University of Bohol in 1972 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, is one of the youngest in the history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be promoted to Commodore (Brigadier General) at the age of fifty. And at present, he is the second Navy Reserve Officer who had reached the rank of Rear Admiral.

Admiral Sanchez illustrious military career started when he was called to active duty on 09 June 1974 , after completing the Naval Officer's Qualification Course “C” at the Naval Training Command in Fort San Felipe, Cavite City. He then went on to occupy significant positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); notable of which are: Commanding Officer, Post Engineering Unit, Naval Station Sangley; Public Works Officer and Command Engineer, Philippine Coast Guard; Special Project Officer, Headquarters Philippine Navy; Command Engineer.

Presidential Security Group; Battalion Commander, Headquarters & Headquarters Battalion, Presidential Security Group; Assistant Chief of Staff for Navigational Safety, Philippine Coast Guard; Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Operations, Naval Construction Brigade; The Navy Chief of Engineers; and Deputy Commander, Naval Construction Brigade. He assumed command as Commander, Naval Construction Brigade (Philippine Navy Seabees) on 29 March 2001 and was promoted to Commodore on 10 November 2002. Admiral Sanchez was designated as Commander, Naval Sea System Command on 06 July 2006 .

While with the Philippine Coast Guard, Bohol has benefited from Admiral Sanchez as he was responsible for the construction of nine lighthouses in the whole province. He was also the Philippines ' representative to the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities Conference in Honolulu , Hawaii , USA . He was with the Inter-Agency Inspection Team on Maritime Safety Improvement Projects in Japan and United Kingdom and has visited HongKong and France for a study tour concerning navigational safety. In his tenure as the Navy Chief of Engineers, Admiral Sanchez headed the Bases and Support Systems Development Committee of the PN Modernization Board in the conduct of study visits and observation tours of naval bases in countries such as Thailand , South Korea , Malaysia , Indonesia and Singapore .

He was instrumental in the preparation of the Philippine Navy's 15 year Bases and Support System Development Program of the PN modernization plan. As commander of NCBde, he visited the United States Navy Seabee Units and Facilities at Port Hueneme , California and its Pacific Command Units in Honolulu Hawaii , USA through the invitation of the Commander, United States Navy Seabees for an observation tour and field exercises at its headquarters. He also visited the Peoples Republic of China to discuss issues on Aquaculture Project.

Admiral Sanchez is a graduate of Naval Command and Staff Course; Coast Guard Station Commander's Course; Contract Administration Course; Crisis Management Course conducted by the British Army Training Team. He also went through Regimental Officer's Advance Course for Engineers at the School for Military Engineers, Holsworthy , New South Wales , Australia ; and the Command and General Staff Course.

Likewise, he pursued graduate studies in Management at the Philippine Christian University. He is a recipient of different military awards, decorations and commendations in the AFP foremost of which are Distinguished Service Star, Military Merit Medals and Military Commendation Medals. He has also received various Plaques of Merit, Distinctions, Letters of Appreciation and Commendations and was awarded the Officers of the Year for Naval Station Services.

He is also an honorary member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976. Admiral Sanchez is also an active member of Tapok-Tapok Bol-anon Incorporated where he organized a Golf Tournament at the Philippine Navy Golf Club that generated considerable amount of funds for the organization. Recently, their organization donated computer sets to the different high schools in the Province of Bohol. He is the son of retirees schools District Supervisors Margarito Sanchez Sr. and the former Adela Villamor, who are now both deceased.

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