Appropriate Greetings

Thanksgiving and praises

TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE CHIEF-OF-STAFF IS AN HONOR; BUT WITH IT COMES THE CHALLENGE. I WOULD ADMIT THAT THIS IS A VERY DELICATE TIME TO BE THE CHIEF-OF-STAFF.  SO TIGHT IS THE AFP'S DEADLINE TO REDUCE INSURGENCY TO INSIGNIFICANCE/ AND SO DETERMINED IS YOUR ARMED FORCES THAT IN THESE FINAL MONTHS/ THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE ARE PUSHING BACK SO HARD. SO APPARENT IS THE NEED FOR THE AFP TO BE MODERNIZED/ IN ORDER TO GIVE OUR COUNTRY THE KIND OF SERVICE THAT IT DESERVES. SO CRITICAL IS THIS FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS/ THAT ALL POSSIBLE SCENARIOS - EVEN THE MOST  UNLIKELY SCENARIO THAT I AM HERE TO DESTROY DEMOCRACY - HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FORE. DESPITE ALL THESE BURDENS, THEY CALL THIS POSITION A REWARD OR A PRIZE. I HAVE HAD MORE THAN 32 YEARS IN SERVICE; AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE MOST DIFFICULT RESPONSIBILITIES OUT THERE ARE WRAPPED IN THE GUISE OF A "REWARD".

YET I WOULD NOT CALL THIS A PUNISHMENT. I BELIEVE THAT ALWAYS, A POSITION TO LEAD OTHER PEOPLE IS GOD-GIVEN AND HE CHOOSES ONE TO BE THERE FOR A PURPOSE. MY PURPOSE AS THE CHIEF-OF-STAFF IS TO LEAD THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO RENDER PROFESSIONAL AND PATRIOTIC SERVICE WORTHY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE'S RESPECT. I AM NOT THE KIND OF COMMANDER WHO WILL LEAD OUR SOLDIERS ASTRAY. I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYBODY TO USE ME FOR PARTISAN POLITICS. SA DIYOS LANG AKO MAGPAPAGAMIT.

YOUR ARMED FORCES HAS BEEN SHAKEN AND TOSSED INTO THE TURBULENT CURRENTS OF THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY.   LIKEWISE, A SOLDIER'S LIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN CONSONANCE TO WHERE THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN LED. WE HAVE BEEN UNDER SEVERAL PRESIDENTS. EACH COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HAS, AT SOME POINT, LED YOUR ARMED FORCES TO WHERE THEY THINK THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE. IN SOME UNFORTUNATE TWISTS IN HISTORY, THE CREDIBILITY OF YOUR ARMED FORCES HAS BEEN DOUBTED. WE HAVE MOVED ON AND IMPROVED OURSELVES EVERY TIME. BUT OUR PEOPLE SEEMED TO HAVE CARRIED THE STIGMA UNTIL NOW. IS IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN A SECOND LOOK?

YOUR AFP TODAY, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY, HAS IMPROVED SO MUCH IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONALISM. WE HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH EFFORT AND RESOURCES TO INCULCATE ON OUR SOLDIERS WHERE THEIR ALLEGIANCE SHOULD LIE. WE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW; WE ARE NOT ABOVE OUR CIVILIAN LEADERS. WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND WE CARRY THE DEEPEST REGARD FOR OUR PEOPLE / EVOKED BY THE FEELINGS THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE SEE OUR NATIONAL FLAG.

THESE ARE PERHAPS TOO ABSTRACT TO THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER. I CANNOT FIND A MORE ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF A SOLDIER'S LIFE THAN WHAT CHARLES DE GAULLE HAS SAID AND I QUOTE: "YOU START OUT GIVING YOUR HAT, THEN YOU GIVE YOUR COAT, THEN YOUR SHIRT, THEN YOUR SKIN, AND FINALLY YOUR SOUL." IN MUCH THE SAME WAY, A SOLDIER'S LIFE IS LIKE THAT. THE LONGER YOU STAY IN THE MILITARY SERVICE, THE MORE YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE PART OF IT AND THAT YOU ARE CALLED TO CONTRIBUTE WITH ALL YOUR ABILITIES  -  AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.

MY CAREER DID NOT START WHEN I WAS ASSIGNED IN PSG, AS MOST PEOPLE ARE INCLINED TO THINK. MY CAREER STARTED IN THE STRUGGLE AND SACRIFICE FIRST FELT IN SEPARATION FROM ONE'S FAMILY WHEN I WAS A YOUNG LIEUTENANT. EARLY ON, WE WERE TRAINED TO IGNORE OUR PAINS AND FORGET OUR COMFORTS. THEN I WAS SENT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM AND SAFETY OF OUR COUNTRYMEN. I ROSE FROM THE RANKS JUST BY DOING MY BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY, PRAYING THAT GOD WOULD CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ME DESPITE THE SIGHT OF DEATH AMONG MY COMRADES WHO DIED FIGHTING, DESPITE THE IMPERFECTIONS OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND MOST OF ALL, DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF APPRECIATION FROM MY COUNTRYMEN.

 I ROSE FROM THE RANKS WITH HARD WORK AS MY CAPITAL. I REACHED PSG AND GAVE THE SAME PROFESSIONAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE. EVERY SINGLE DAY, I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS A PRESIDENT WHO IS ALIVE TO SERVE YOU. I HAVE DONE MY DUTY WELL. BUT EVER SINCE I LEFT PSG, EVERY TIME I GOT PROMOTED, PEOPLE THINK THAT I WAS THERE EITHER BECAUSE I KOWTOWED, OR BECAUSE I WILL BE USED FOR SOMETHING ILLEGAL. AS YOU KNOW, EVEN MY ASSUMPTION AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF IS NOT WITHOUT THOSE DOUBTS. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY YEARS OF HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE? WILL I TAINT MY NAME AND BETRAY OUR PEOPLE IN THIS TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY NEEDS FAITHFUL SERVICE THE MOST? DEFINITELY NOT.

THE REASON WHY I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR PRESIDENT ARROYO IS BECAUSE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, NEVER HAVE I RECEIVED ILLEGAL ORDERS FROM HER. I’M SORRY IF THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT THAT IS THE TRUTH. DESPITE THIS, SOME PEOPLE HAVE MADE UP THEIR MINDS TO BELIEVE THAT MERE ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRESIDENT MAKES ONE A BAD LEADER.

I AM JUST AMONG MANY OF OUR SOLDIERS WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES FOR THIS COUNTRY. AND I AM AMONG THE SOLDIERS WHO JUST TRY, EACH DAY, TO BE PROFESSIONAL / DESPITE THE ACCUSATIONS TO THE CONTRARY. MAYBE NOW YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE HOW FRUSTRATING IT IS FOR A FILIPINO SOLDIER TO HAVE HIS SACRIFICES AND PROFESSIONALISM IGNORED, JUST BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH POLITICKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE JUST EXERCISING EXTREME CAUTIOUSNESS IN THIS CRITICAL TIME. I DO NOT BEGRUDGE THAT. BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IN MY DUTY AS THE FATHER OF THE AFP IF I WOULD NOT SPEAK UP AGAINST IT. SO TODAY, I PLEAD: PLEASE, PLEASE SPARE YOUR ARMED FORCES FROM POLITICS. WE COULD DO MORE FOR OUR COUNTRY IF YOU LET US FOCUS ON OUR MISSION.

WHERE WILL I LEAD THE AFP?

I WILL CONTINUE OUR MODERNIZATION EFFORTS. OUR ARMED FORCES SHOULD BE AT PAR WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN TERMS OF CAPABILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS. WE ARE ON THE ROAD TO IT. GEN. IBRADO HAS ENSURED THAT WE HEAD TOWARD THAT DIRECTION IN HIS ENTIRE TIME IN THE SERVICE. THANK YOU SIR. I WILL BE AS RELENTLESS AS YOU WERE.

EACH SOLDIER WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AS A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY. THEY ENDURE SACRIFICES MORE THAN OUR COUNTRYMEN REALIZE. THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS VALUED MEMBERS. HOWEVER, AS A FATHER DISCIPLINES A CHILD, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THE MISDEMEANORS OF OUR SOLDIERS. HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE UPHELD IN ALL OUR OPERATIONS PARTICULARLY IN THIS CRUCIAL TIME IN OUR ANTI-INSURGENCY CAMPAIGN. AGAIN, WE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW. BUT SO IS EVERY FILIPINO. JUST AS WE UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, SO WILL WE UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF OUR SOLDIERS.

IN SUPPORT TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, YOU WILL SEE THE AFP THAT IS NOT CONFINED IN ITS OWN SPACE, BUT IS WILLING TO REACH OUT TO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS OF PEACE. EVEN MORE, WE WILL USE DEVELOPMENT AS THE TOOL FOR ATTAINING PEACE. STILL, THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE SHOULD KNOW WHERE THEIR BOUNDARIES ARE. IF THEY STEP IN TO HARM OUR PEOPLE, WE WILL BE READY TO PUT FORWARD OUR BEST FIGHTERS. WE ARE NOT CALLED THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR NOTHING. 

THE AFP WILL MARCH IN FRIENDSHIP WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF OTHER COUNTRIES CLEARLY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS IN FRIENDSHIP THAT WARS BECOME IRRELEVANT. WE WILL MAXIMIZE TRAINING EXCHANGES WITH THE US, AUSTRALIA, AND OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES LIKE INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

AMIDST ALL THE FEARS, CONTROVERSIES, AND ISSUES, I WANT TO ASSURE EACH AND EVERY FILIPINO THAT I AM FOR THE HEALTHY EXERCISE OF DEMOCRACY. I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO FIGHT THE ENEMIES OF DEMOCRACY. THE FIGHT FOR PEACE WILL STILL GO ON. WE WILL ALWAYS BE ON THE SIDE OF WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS RIGHT.

WE HAVE GAINED SO MUCH; THERE IS NO LETDOWN ON OUR EFFORTS.  I BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS TO MOVE ON. AND FOR THIS, WE NEED A VERY, VERY CREDIBLE ELECTION. I HAVE STARTED THIS ADVOCACY IN THE PHILIPPINE ARMY. / FOUR DAYS AGO, ELEVEN SOLDIERS DIED IN A FIGHT AGAINST THE NPA WHO WANTED TO EXTORT PERMIT TO CAMPAIGN FEES IN MINDORO. THEY WERE OUR FIRST CASUALTIES IN OUR ADVOCACY FOR A CREDIBLE ELECTION. AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR YOUNG AND IDEALISTIC SOLDIERS, OUR SENIOR NCO’S WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE INSTITUTION/ WILL NEVER WASTE THE SACRIFICE OF OUR COMRADES. I AM ONE WITH THEM IN DEFENDING THIS INSTITUTION FROM PARTISAN POLITICS.WE WILL GIVE HONOR TO THEIR SACRIFICES BY PROTECTING YOUR VOTES AS IF THEY WERE OUR OWN. THIS IS NOT LIP SERVICE. WE HAVE CONCRETE PLANS FOR THIS. IF YOU WANT PROOF, JOIN OUR CRUSADE FOR CREDIBLE ELECTIONS. WE NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER.

ABOVE ALL, I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER, AND WILL REMAIN SO. IT HAS BEEN 32 YEARS SINCE I HAVE MADE THE OATH OF THE FILIPINO SOLDIER. I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THAT. AND I NEVER WILL. TODAY, I AM RENEWING THAT OATH.

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER.

I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER.

I WILL FIGHT ALL FORCES THAT WOULD DESTROY THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER.

I WILL OBEY ALL LAWS, LEGAL ORDERS, AND DECREES OF MY LAWFUL SUPERIOR AT ALL TIMES.

I AM A FILIPINO SOLDIER.

I WILL FIGHT AND DIE IN THE TRUE FILIPINO TRADITION OF VALOR, HONOR, DUTY AND LOYALTY.

TO EACH FILIPINO SOLDIER LISTENING TODAY: THIS IS MY OATH AS MUCH AS YOURS. STRIVE HARD. NO AMOUNT OF MODERN WEAPONRY CAN EQUAL THE FILIPINO SOLDIER WHO HAS LOVE OF COUNTRY IN HIS/HER HEART.

WITH FAITH IN GOD, I WILL DO MY DUTY. GOD BLESS THE AFP AND GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!