PLEDGE OF SUSTAINABILITY, SERVICE, AND THE PROMOTION OF PEACE

I. Appropriate Greetings

Thanksgiving and praises

I stand before you today honored yet humbled as I take on my post as the 39th Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines.

I am profoundly grateful, foremost, to God Almighty, the Great Architect of the Universe, the invisible hand that guides and protects us all;

To the President and Commander-n-Chief, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for the great privilege to be your Chief of Staff.

I am also profoundly moved by the overwhelming support I have received from the following:

The Secretary of National Defense, the Honorable Gilberto C Teodoro Jr, for the inspired guidance he has provided to the defense and military institutions;

To my esteemed predecessor, the outgoing Chief of Staff, General Alexander Yano - my "Mistah" and one of the finest and well-respected officers of the AFP today - you have my deepest admiration. The same goes to our predecessor, General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr and others before him;

To General Rodolfo Estrellado, former PMA Superintendent, for his fine example of leadership;

Nais ko ring samantalahin ang pagkakataong ito upang magpasalamat sa lahat ng opisyal, sundalo at kawaning sibilyan na aking nakasama sa iba't ibang yunit at posisyon na aking ginampanan. Hindi ko mararating ang kinatatayuan ko ngayon kung hindi dahil sa inyo.

I would like to specially thank my late parents to whom I owe my life and what I am today;

And, last but not least, my round of gratitude would not be complete without these people - my wife, Bebet, and our children: Victoria, Milo Victor, and Victoria Grace. They are my pride, my joy, and source of strength.

Sa inyong lahat, marami pong salamat.

II. Acceptance of the Designation

Having signed my appointment orders, I now assume as the AFP Chief of Staff extremely confident because my predecessors have built one very solid Team AFP.

The task at hand is overwhelming, but I remain undaunted. Our goal is to reduce insurgency to an insignificant level by 2010, as well as defeat the Abu Sayyaf Group and other threats to national security. We must channel our resources to finish this task. I am confident to say that THIS CAN AND WILL BE DONE.

All the operational planning guidelines - the institutional philosophy, policy reforms, and program innovations - have already been set into motion by my predecessors.

We have a common understanding of what we shall do, how we will do it, and how each of us can contribute to the success of our campaign.

Nonetheless, let me emphasize that the insurgency problem requires a holistic approach. We need the support and active participation of the local government units, the national government instrumentalities, and all other stakeholders in this campaign. We definitely encourage public participation and involvement in our peace and development initiatives.

To all members of Team AFP, my fellow soldiers, we have a deadline to beat, so JUST DO YOUR JOB. As long as we all work together toward the same direction, in the same determined pace, I firmly believe we can accomplish that purpose. We can all look forward to a genuinely secure, stable, dynamic, and globally-competitive republic. With God's grace, we shall prevail.

Mabuhay and a pleasant day to all of you.