President Aquino leads 27th anniversary of the
Presidential Security Group
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the awarding
ceremonies marking the 27th founding anniversary of the Presidential Security
Group at its headquarters in Malacañang Park, Manila on Monday.
Joining the President were Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, PSG Commander Brigadier General Ramon Mateo Dizon, and other
national and local government officials led by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.
Upon his arrival at the PSG Grandstand, President
Aquino was accorded military honors by PSG troops.
The President led the presentation of plaques of
recognition to the PSG personnel awardees for 2012 as well as citations to
public and private individuals for their unwavering support and assistance to
the PSG.
The Best PSG Personnel for 2012 are: Major Ian
Noel P. Ignes, Organic Officer of the Year (Field Grade Category); Lieutenant
Junior Grade (LTJG) John C. Lobaton, Organic Officer of the Year (Company Grade
Category);Lieutenant Colonel Ray Claudio R. Abaya, Operational Control (OPCON)
Officer of the Year (Field Grade Category); Lieutenant Crisanto A. Anas, OPCON
Officer of the Year (Company Grade Category): Master Sergeant Jonard M. Delima,
Organic Enlisted Personnel of the Year (Senior NCO Category);
Staff Sergeant Ricky J. Gonzales, Organic
Enlisted Personnel of the Year (Junior NCO Category); Technical Sergeant Roland
G. Macalma, OPCON Officer of the Year (Senior NCO Category), Sgt. Michael C.
Cabanes, OPCON Enlisted Personnel of the Year (Junior (NCO Category) and
Registered Nurse Myra G. Rocio, Civilian Employee of the Year.
The PSG also presented the Plaque of Recognition
to Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Phividec Industrial Authority
Administrator Leo Magno, Development Academy of the Philippines President and
Chief Executive Officer Antonio D. Kalaw Jr. Tanduay Distillers Inc. President
and Chief Executive Officer Wilson Young and Sonny Guevarra, of the Alcatel
Philippines.
To signify their profound thanks to President
Aquino, the PSG presented to the Chief Executive a memento which symbolizes the
PSG's commitment to protect the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
After the ceremonies, the Chief Executive
inspected the PSG War Room and C2 Situation Room.
The PSG traces its roots to March 1897 when it
was created to protect General Emilio Aguinaldo, then President of the
revolutionary government.
Since then, it has gone through several name
changes under succeeding Presidents such as: Malacañang Guards (President
Quezon), Presidential Guards (President Osmeña), Malacañang Secret Agents
(President Quirino), Presidential Security Force (President Garcia), and
Presidential Security Agency (President Diosdado Macapagal).
In 1986, the late President Corazon Aquino
disbanded the Presidential Security Command that served under former President
Ferdinand Marcos, and replaced it with a leaner Presidential Security Group
with then Army Colonel Voltaire Gazmin as its chief. PND (js)
President Aquino cites officers and men of the
Presidential Security Group for their dignity and courage
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the
officers and members of the elite Presidential Security Group (PSG) for their
dignity and courage in carrying out their mandate to protect the Chief
Executive and the seat of government.
In his speech keynoting the 27th Founding
Anniversary of the PSG in Malacanang Park, Manila on Monday, the President
thanked the PSG for providing him the security that allows him to pursue his
administration's advocacy to implement reforms.
"Sa paglilibot ko sa kalakhang bansa upang
alamin at pabilisin pa ang pagsulong natin sa tuwid na daan, at sa
pakikisalamuha sa ating mga kababayan—sa loob man o labas ng bansa—lagi kong
kasama ang mga bumubuo sa Presidential Security Group," President Aquino
said.
"Sa ilalim man ng nagbabagang araw, o sa
biglaang buhos ng ulan; sa harap man ng pulutong ng tao, o maski sa kakaunting
pribadong oras na nakakahalubilo ko kayo—buong-lakas at buong-sigasig kayong
nagsisilbi—para samahan akong tuparin ang mga sinumpaan kong tungkulin sa
bayan," he said.
The President acknowledged the continuous
efforts of the PSG to professionalize its members in carrying out its tasks of
providing protection for the Chief Executive, the First Family and the
institution. The PSG also provides protective security to visiting Heads of
States and Diplomats
"Matapos ang dalawampu’t pitong taon,
ibang-iba na talaga ang PSG ngayon. Nasisiguro kong higit kailanman, nalulugod
din kayo sa kompiyansa at tiwala ng sambayanan sa ating pamahalaan, lalo pa’t
binabantayan ninyo hindi lamang ang seguridad ko at ng aking pamilya, kundi
maging ng buong institusyon na ating pinaglilingkuran," he said.
Despite the tough challenges, the President
said, the PSG succeeded in bringing back the honor to the elite group through
the reforms implemented by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
"Sa likod ng kaliwa’t kanang problema na
ipinamana ng diktadurya, sa kabila ng mga tangkang muling panaigin ang
karahasan at pagkakanya-kanya, itinindig ni Secretary Volts (Gazmin) at ng PSG
nang may buong dangal at tapang upang maitaguyod ang seguridad at kapayapaan sa
bansa, at maipagtanggol ang nabawi nating demokrasya," he said.
The President also lauded PSG Commander
Brigadier General Ramon Mateo Dizon for leading the elite group to effectively
carry out the tasks.
"Kaya naman, sa pangunguna ni Brigadier
General Chito Dizon, muli ko kayong pinapasalamatan sa isa na namang makabuluhan
at matagumpay na taon ng inyong hanay. Saludo at tinitingala ko kayo sa inyong
tibay at walang-kapagurang dedikasyong maglingkod," he said. PND (js)
Malacanang says Aquino government welcomes move
of the International Civil Aviation Organization team to recommend lifting of
significant safety concerns issued against the country
The Aquino administration welcomed the move of
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) team to recommend the
lifting of Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) issued against the country, a
Palace official said on Monday.
"Last month, the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) sent a Coordinated Validation Mission to inspect
the efforts of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to comply
with international aviation safety standards, and address significant safety
concerns identified by the ICAO," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte said in a statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Monday.
Valte said the ICAO Coordinated Validation
Mission Team had informed the government that it will recommend to the ICAO
Headquarters in Montreal, Canada the lifting of the SSCs.
"Before they left, the ICAO team expressed
great satisfaction with what they found, and said they would make a
recommendation to the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada, that the
significant safety concerns previously issued to the Philippines be
lifted," she said.
In a letter to the CAAP dated March 1, the ICAO
stated that the SSC Validation Committee “has determined that the corrective
actions taken by the Philippines have successfully addressed and resolved” the
SSCs."
"With this positive development, the CAAP
will continue to coordinate with the European Union and the Federal Aviation
Administration about upgrading the country’s aviation status," Valte said.
PND (js)
President Aquino tells Kirams, 'reasonable
dialogue can only begin when we exercise calm, restraint and have an open mind'
President Benigno S. Aquino III reiterated his
administration’s position that the only way to end the Sabah crisis is for all
parties concerned to sit down and dialogue towards attaining a peaceful and
fruitful resolution that is fair to all.
In a message delivered in Malacanang on Monday,
the President said that all stakeholders should exercise calm, restraint, and
come to the table together with open minds for “reasonable dialogue” to
commence.
“Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang panawagan ko sa
angkan ni Sultan Jamalul Kiram III: hindi risonableng humingi ng pang-unawa
kung nakatutok ang iyong armas sa mukha ng iyong kausap,” the President said.
“Magsisimula lamang ang risonableng usapan oras
na maging handa kayong huminahon at magtimpi, at humarap sa mesa nang may bukas
na pag-iisip,” he added.
He pointed out that he was aware that there were
“forces” behind Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III’s actions of sending some 200 of
his followers to Lahad Datu town in Northern Sabah to press their claim on the
territory, saying these forces, who have put in danger some 800,000 Filipinos
living and working in Sabah, would not prosper in their plans.
“Mulat tayong may mga taong nagkuntsabahan upang
humantong tayo sa sitwasyong ito—isang sitwasyong walang agarang solusyon. Ilan
po sa kanila ay nakikita natin, habang ang iba naman ay nagkukubli pa rin sa
dilim,” the President said.
“Hindi po kakayanin ng angkan ni Sultan Jamalul
Kiram III na gawing mag-isa ang ganitong uri ng pagkilos. Kapansin-pansin din
ang nag-iisang linya ng mga kritiko para gatungan ang malubha na ngang
sitwasyon. Pinalubha nila ang isyung ito, at ginagawa nila ito habang
inilalagay sa peligro ang daan-daang libong Pilipino,” he added.
“Sa mga taong nasa likod nito, ngayon pa lang,
sinasabi ko sa inyo: Hindi kayo magtatagumpay. Pananagutin natin ang mga
nagkasala sa bansa,” the President said.
He vowed to do all he and his government could
do to end this crisis peacefully.
“Gayumpaman, hindi tayo mauubusan ng lakas para
piliting tapusin ang kaguluhang ito sa lalong madaling panahon. Simple lamang
po: matatapos ang kaguluhang ito kung maging risonable ang mga personalidad na
sangkot dito, lalo na ang mga taong ang tingin nila sa kanilang sarili ay tunay
na pinuno,” the President said.
Joining the President for the press briefing
were Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, Sulu Governor Abdusakur “Sakur”
Tan, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanano Governor Mujiv Hataman, Tawi-Tawi
Governor Sadikul Sahali, Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, and Lanao del Sur Governor
Mamintal Adiong, Jr.
Also present were Transportation Secretary
Joseph Emilio Abaya, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, and Communication
Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon Carandang, and Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. PND (rck)
