President Aquino leads awarding rites honoring
soldiers and civilian employees of Armed Forces of the Philippines on its 77th
anniversary
President
Benigno S. Aquino III led the awarding ceremonies honoring 12 soldiers and
civilian employees for their outstanding achievements and heroic acts in the
service in celebration of the 77th Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Anniversary at the AFP Grandstand, Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City on Friday.
Anchored
on the theme: “Bayanihan at Kahandaan: Tuwid na Daan Tungo sa Kapayapaan,"
this year’s AFP Anniversary celebration was highlighted by the awarding of 12
deserving AFP personnel who contributed to the advancement and promotion of the
organization.
Also
present during the event were former president Fidel V. Ramos, Defense
Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa and
other officials of the AFP's major commands namely, Philippine Army (PA),
Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Air Force (PAF), Police Deputy Director
General Alan Purisima; Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, Philippine Coast Guard
chief, government officials, members of the Armed Forces Attaches, among
others.
The Chief
Executive awarded 2nd Lieutenant Ferdinand J. Divina, PN, with the
Distinguished Conduct Star; Colonel Glorioso V. Miranda, PA, (Distinguished
Service Star); 1st Lieutenant Carlo P. Valdez, PAF, (Gold Cross Medal);
Corporal Christopher C. Cabrito, PA, (Gold Cross Medal); Brigadier General
Alejandro H. Estomo, AFP (Outstanding Achievement Medal); Colonel Emmanuel G.
Cacdac, PA (Gawad sa Kaunlaran); CAA Abdurasad H. Asmad, (Kagitingan sa
Barangay); Master Sergeant Fermin O. Rocio, (Enlisted Personnel of the Year);
Cadet Col. Iceal Averroes E. Estrella, 1CL, Male Reserve Officer Training Corps
(ROTC) Cadet of the Year; Cadet Col. Jaimie Lou T. Sarmiento, 1CL, Female ROTC
Cadet of the Year, Aurora B. Ronquillo, Model Supervisor of the Year and Nelson
G. Maligro, Model Civilian Employee of the Year.
Upon his
arrival, President Aquino was given full military honors.
Another
highight of the celebration was the presentation of the book entitled,
"Kwentong Bayanihan," a collection of short stories written by
members of the military and civilian sectors to illustrate the finest practices
of Bayanihan to the President and the AFP Commander-in-Chief Aquino.
The AFP
also presented to the Chief Executive a DVD copy of 20 short films under
"Kwentong Bayan," produced and directed by Filipino Pictures, Inc. It
is envisioned to effectively show a different perspective on addressing the
root causes of insurgency and social issues in the country.
The event
was also highlighted by the Inspection of troops, pass-in-review and the
motorized contigent featuring some of the AFP's newly-acquired and refurbished
equipment.
The motorized
contingent was composed of the Special Operations Command mounted on three
KM450 vehicles, the 710th Special Operations Wing on one Humvee Combat Vehicle,
two KM450 trucks and one Explosive, Ordnance and Disposal Van.
The
armored assets of the Philippine Army including two V150 Commando and three
Simba Fighting Vehicles; Armored Assets of the Philippine Marine Corps
including one Humvee Combat Vehicle, two V300 and one V150 combat vehicles;
Army artillery assets including six Tubes Howitzers, newly-acquired field
ambulance units and four new tonner trucks were paraded during the event.
The
celebration also featured a sky-diving exhibition. PND (js)
President Aquino vows government support for the
Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen its capabilities
President
Benigno S. Aquino III vowed the administration's unwavering support for the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to strengthen its capabilities in the
performance of its mandate of upholding the sovereignty the country and
defending its territorial integrity and protecting the Filipino people.
In his
speech during the 77th AFP Anniversary at the AFP Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo,
Quezon City on Friday, the Chief Executive emphasized the importance of
modernizing the AFP to enhance its capabilities in defending the country and
the Filipino people.
President
Aquino graced the AFP anniversary rites which has for its theme “Bayanihan at
Kahandaan: Tuwid na Daan Tungo sa Kapayapaan," as guest of honor and
speaker.
"Dahil sa inyong mga sakripisyo,
makakaasa pa rin kayo sa patuloy na suporta ng pamahalaan at
sambayanan....Mantakin po ninyo ---mahigit dalawampu’t walong bilyong piso ang
agad nating inilaan para sa AFP Modernization Program sa loob lamang ng isang
taon at pitong buwan. Mula sa pagiging kawawang cowboy, itinulak natin ang AFP
bilang mas moderno’t mas maaasahang tanggulan," the President said.
The
President said the government will continue to effect reforms in the AFP to
ensure that its funds will be used only in serving the needs of the people,
including the soldiers and civilian employees of the armed forces services.
The
administration has already provided much-deserved benefits for the AFP military
and civilian personnel.
"Nariyan din ang 21,800 na bahay na
itinayo para sa mga pulis at kasundaluhan, at ang karagdagang 31,200 na
kabahayan pa na inaasahan nating makumpleto sa Agosto 2013, hindi lang para sa
mga pulis at sundalo, kundi pati na sa mga bumbero at kawani ng BJMP," he
said.
President
Aquino said the Framework Agreement signed by the Government of the Philippines
and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last October 15 is a vital step to
attain genuine peace.
"Matapos ang makasaysayang kasunduang
pangkapayapaan sa Moro Islamic Liberation Front at sa pagtataguyod ng
Bangsamoro, inaasahan po nating matutuldukan na rin ang deka-dekadang alitan sa
katimugang bahagi ng bansa at magsisimula nang mapitas ng ating mga kapatid na
Muslim at Lumad ang pangako ng kanilang lupang tinubuan," he said.
He called
on the AFP to step up its efforts in implementing the Internal Peace and
Security Plan Bayanihan (IPSP) program.
"Batid nating may masasamang elemento pa
ring patuloy na pinagbabantaan ang kaligtasan at payapang pamumuhay ng ilang
pamayanan sa bansa.....At hindi po tayo makukuntento hangga’t may mga pamilya
pa ring naiipit sa mga walang katuturang bakbakan. Kumpiyansa at inaasahan po
nating sa pag-iral ng IPSP Bayanihan, napipinto na ang paglaganap ng malawakang
kapayapaan sa mga lugar na dati’y pugad ng armadong hidwaan," he stressed.
The Chief
Executive expressed high hopes that the AFP will continue to focus on their
duties and responsibilities to maintain peace and order in the country.
He also
thanked the AFP personnel for their full support in the government’s programs
aimed at uplifting and protecting the lives of the people as he cited the AFP’s
important role in the government's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
operations in times of calamities.
"Unti-unti na rin pong bumabangon ang
ilang bahagi ng Visayas at Mindanao na sinalanta ng bagyong Pablo. Habang
tumatanaw tayo ng malaking utang ng loob sa bawat kawal na nakibalikat sa
panahon ng sakuna, huwag sana nating limitahin ang kaya pa nating magawa,"
the President said.
"Huwag sana tayong makuntento sa kung ano
ang kaya nating iambag pagkatapos lamang ng sakuna; sa halip, tumutok tayo sa
kung ano ang kaya nating gawin bago pa man ito sumalanta. Ibig sabihin, bago pa
man madapa ang ating mga kababayan, dapat ay nakahanda na tayong pigilan ang
kanilang pagbagsak at isinagad natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya para maiwasan
ito.," he added. PND (js)
