MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named former undersecretary Alexander Lopez as spokesman of the National Maritime Council (NMC), an inter-agency body tasked to provide a strategic approach in addressing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said that Lopez, a former military officer, would speak on behalf of the NMC on issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.

The NMC, headed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, was created by Marcos under Executive Order 57 with the aim of strengthening the Philippines' maritime security and increasing maritime domain awareness among Filipinos amid China's aggressive tactics and threats in the West Philippine Sea.

The appointment of Lopez comes amid escalating tensions between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea.

Recently, China Coast Guard and maritime militia launched aggressive actions against a routine resupply mission for Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal that injured four Filipino crew members.

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) batch 1982, Lopez served as commander of the Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from 2014 to 2016.

He also served as deputy chief of staff for Education and Training (J8) of the AFP; commander of Fleet-Marine Ready Force, and Joint Task Force Malampaya; chief of Naval Staff for Operations, N3; and Philippine Defense and AFP attaché in Singapore.

Lopez was also a former deputy chief of Naval Staff for Intelligence, N2; chief, Foreign Training Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Education and Training; and chief, Manpower and Organization Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.

He also served as chief of Fleet Staff for Operations, F3; commanding officer (Philippine Navy Commissioned Vessels); executive officer (Philippine Navy Vessels); and commander, Naval Intelligence and Security Units.

Lopez also served as undersecretary of the Department of Energy from 2018 to 2022; consultant of the same agency from 2017 to 2018; and security consultant of ABS-CBN Corp. from 2016 to 2018.