President Aquino cites Philippine Army for its
reliable commitment to serve the people in times of crisis
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited on Friday
the Philippine Army (PA) for its ever-reliable and time tested commitment to
serve the people in times of crisis and disasters.
In his speech during the Philippine Army Change
of Command Ceremony and Testimonial Review in honor of Lieutenant General Noel
A. Coballes at the Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on
Friday, the Chief Executive noted the capabilities of the PA in protecting the
Filipino people during critical times .
"Mulat po ang ating gobyerno sa bigat ng
tungkuling nakaatang sa balikat ng kasundaluhan. Kasama ang kapulisan, kayo ang
tagapagtanggol ng ating mamamayan sa oras ng kaguluhan at una nilang takbuhan
sa panahon ng kalamidad," the Chief Executive said.
"Ni minsan, hindi kayo nagkulang. Sa
Zamboanga, buong-giting ninyong nilabanan ang masasamang loob nang may ibayong
pag-iingat na mailigtas ang lahat ng mga hostages," the President said.
President Aquino also cited the PA for its role
in disaster relief operations.
"Sa Cebu at Bohol, hindi ninyo inalintana
ang peligrong dulot ng malakas na lindol. Sa kasagsagan ng bagyong Yolanda,
hanggang sa pagbabalik sa normalidad ng mga sinalantang probinsya, naroon din
kayo, sumasaklolo sa nangangailangan," he said.
President Aquino urged the PA officers and men
to continue working hard in order to help the Filipino nation create an
environment conducive for sustainable development and just and lasting peace.
"Pinabigat pa nga lalo ang mga hamong ito
ng minanang problema ng ating pambansang tanggulan. Mula po 1986 hanggang sa
kasalukuyan, dumoble na ang populasyon ng bansa, pero hindi nagbago ang bilang
ng ating mga sundalo’t pulis," the President said.
"Hindi naman ganun kasimple ang pagdagdag
ng kawal dahil mangangailangan ito ng napakalaking pondo. Sa tulong ng
Kongreso, isinusulong natin ang mga batas na i-aangkop sa panahon ang benepisyo
ng unipormadong hanay, upang bigyang-daan ang pagdaragdag ng mga sundalo’t
pulis," he said.
The President also lauded Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes
who retired on Friday for his various accomplishments.
"Sa loob ng mahigit isang taon,
pinangunahan ni Lieutenant General Coballes ang reporma sa Hukbong Katihan na
siyang may pinakamaraming hanay sa ating Sandatahang Lakas. Masigasig niyang
tinutukan ang implementasyon ng Army Transformation Roadmap at ng Internal
Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan," he said.
"Madalas nga po siyang madestino noon sa
Mindanao, kaya’t batid niyang hindi sapat na matalo lang ang mga kalaban sa
bakbakan. Ang lalong mahalaga: maabot ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan kung saan
panalo ang bawat Pilipino," the President said.
President Aquino also expressed trust and
confidence in Major General Hernando DCA Iriberri as the 56th Commanding
General of the PA.
"Kaya naman marapat lamang na mahusay at
maaasahang pinuno din ang humalili sa kanya—ito ay walang iba kundi si Major
General Hernando Iriberri. Pinabatid po sa atin ang kahanga-hanga pong mga
naabot niyang tagumpay noon, tulad ng nakaraang taon lamang bilang Commander ng
503rd Infantry Brigade, ang kanyang unit ay naging instrumental sa pagkamit ng
pinakamapayapang eleksyon sa probinsya ng Abra," he said.
"Dahil epektibo niyang natugunan anumang
banta doon, nakapagtala ang probinsya ng 83 percent voters turn-out—ang
pinakamataas na tala sa Cordillera Administrative Region noong nakaraang
eleksyon. Balita ko rin, ang tawag sa kanya sa AFP ay code “Superman,” the
President said. PND (js)
President Aquino says potential state-witness
Ruby Tuason to help bring closure to pork barrel scam
President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday
that the testimonies of potential state-witness Ruby Tuason will help bring
closure to the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.
"Noong sinabing magte-testify siya, meron
isa na pwedeng magkumpleto nung proseso, magtatahi, magre-reaffirm ng mga
allegations ng ating mga whistleblowers," the Chief Executive said in his
interview with the media following his attendance to the Philippine Army Change
of Command Ceremony on Friday at the Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort
Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Tuason, one of those charged in connection with
the P10-billion pork barrel scam, arrived in the Philippines to testify against
the perpetrators of the scam.
"So mas mapapatibay ang ebidensiya at sabi
ko nga sa — at pangako natin sa sambayanan, kung saan tayo dadalhin ng
ebidensiya, doon tayo tutungo. Makakatulong ito sa pagsasara dito sa kabanatang
ito na nangyari [na] pang-aapi sa ating sambayanan," the President said.
Last year, President Aquino abolished the PDAF
amid allegations of misuse of some P10 billion public funds. He also directed
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to bring all perpetrators to justice.
"Ang nangyari diyan sa PDAF parang may mga
conspiracy from the whistleblowers tapos iyong sa napagalaman natin, pati iyong
pagtingin ng COA (Commission on Audit)," he said.
Tuason's lawyer, Dennis Manalo, said his client
had already executed her sworn affidavit.
She has been admitted to the Witness Protection
Program of the Department of Justice (DOJ). PND (js)
President Aquino to spend time with his family
and close friends on his 54th birthday
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he intends
to celebrate his 54th birthday with his family and close friends.
"I am sure I’ll be spending some time with
my family and also with some close friends. Tradisyon sa amin lalo na sa mga
Kapampangan magpakain. Sana kaya ko kayong pakainin lahat," the Chief
Executive said in his interview with the media following his attendance to the
Philippine Army Change of Command Ceremony and Testimonial Review in honor of
Lieutenant General Noel A. Coballes at the Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort
Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The 15th President of the Republic of the
Philippines, who will turn 54 on Saturday, thanked God for all the blessings
and guidance.
"Siyempre para (mag) pray, thank you for
the 54 years and also for all of the things that we are aspiring for especially
iyong better communities, more resilient to disasters especially given that
there are so many disasters that still visiting our shores," he said.
"Sisiguraduhin ko na iyong mga date ninyo
sa Valentines — para magkaroon kayo ng pagkakataon na ma-celebrate ang
Valentine’s Day ng mapayapa," the President said when asked about his plan
on Valentine's Day. PND (js)
Aquino welcomes United States statement calling
on China to clarify territorial claims in South China Sea
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday
welcomed the statement of a top United States (US) diplomat calling on China to
clarify or adjust its territorial claims in the South China Sea in accordance
with international law.
“Iyong statement ng Amerika, iyong kanilang
Assistant Secretary of State (Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for
East Asian and Pacific affairs) is welcome. But at the end of the day, lahat ng
bansa dito sa dispute na ito at sa lahat ng public fora na tayo ay aware, ay
nagsasalita ng adherence to international law," the Chief Executive said
in an interview with media following his attendance to the Philippine Army
Change of Command Ceremony at the Philippine Army Grandstand, Fort Bonifacio,
Taguig City.
The President also reiterated the Philippine's
commitment for a peaceful solution to maritime dispute.
" Iyon lang naman ang inaasam natin… lahat
tayo sumunod doon sa international law, lalo na doon sa mga batas na malaya
nating pinasukan, katulad nung UNCLOS - the United Nations Convention on Law of
the Sea," the President stressed.
"Walang namilit na maging signatory tayo
diyan. China and the Philippines are signatories to the same. And we are hoping
that we all live up to the commitments expressed in a treaty such as
that," he said.
According to reports, Russel challenged
Beijing's so-called "nine-dash line" that outlines its territorial
claims over much of the South China Sea.
Russel said that maritime claims under
international law needed to be based on land features. PND (js)
