AMENITIES ...
AMIDST THE SCORCHING HEAT OF EARLY SUMMER, IT IS
A FINE DAY TO BEGIN THIS YET ANOTHER STIMULATING
JOURNEY IN MY MILITARY CAREER • I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE
A LOT OF FAMILIAR AND EVEN NEW FACES WHO SHARE THE
SAME GLADNESS THAT I HAVE THIS VERY MOMENT - MY
FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, COMRADES, SHIPMATES, FRIENDS
FROM OVER THE YEARS, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER WEll-
WISHERS FROM THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF SERVICE AND
SECTORS OF THE SOCIETY • THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY·
AS I ASSUME COMMAND OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
REGION COMMAND TODAY, I PRAISE AND THANK THE LORD ALMIGHTY FOR THIS WONDERFUL BLESSING.
I AM ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUST AND
CONFIDENCE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME BY THE
PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,THE SECRETARY OF
NATIONAL DEFENSE, THE CHIEF OF STAFF, AFP, THE FLAG
OFFICER IN COMMAND OF THE PHILIPPINE NAVY AND THE
REST OF THE BOARD OF GENERALS. WITH MY EXPRESSION OF
GRATITUDE IS MY PLEDGE - THAT I WILL DELIVER FOR THE
AFP, AND OUR NATION, AS I HAVE CONSISTENTLY
ENDEAVORED IN THE PAST·
BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE CRITICISMS AND SPECULATIONS
ON THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT NEVER CHANGE - ONLY
THE PERSONALITIES DO • SO, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO
REITERATE OUR PURPOSE, ROLES AND FUNCTIONS - THAT WE
ARE HERE ONLY TO UPHOLD THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION
- AND IT SEEMS THAT IT ALWAYS FALL ON DEAF EARS •
NEVERTHELESS WE DECLARE THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
THE PUBLIC CAN REST ASSURED THAT THE MILITARY, THE
DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT, WILL ALWAYS BE BOUND BY THE
LAW, AND WILL SERVE ITS PURPOSES • ULTIMATELY, WE ARE
ALL ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE, FOR WHOM THE LAW AND
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE MILITARY - EXIST; TO SERVE
AND PROTECT •
IN SO FAR AS PERSONALITIES GO, WE ARE ALL JUST
PASSING HERE ONCE. WE STRIVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN FOR
THE WORLD TO BECOME BETTER THAN WHEN WE FOUND IT •
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PERSONAL GUIDEPOST IN MY
CAREER AS A MILITARY OFFICER. MY RECORD BEARS IT OUT,
AND MY SERVICE HAS BEEN UNTAINTED • NOW, I AM HERE TO
SERVE AS HEAD OF THE NCRCOM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY,
AND WILL DO SO REGARDLESS OF ANY CRITICISM OR
SPECULATION. SPECIFICALLY, WITH REFERENCE TO THE
FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS THIS YEAR, UNDER MY COMMAND I
SHALL SEE TO IT THAT TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE ARMED
FORCES , THE NCRCOM WILL WORK TO ENSURE THE
PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS IN THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, IN COOPERATION WITH THE
COMELEC AND ALL OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED·
SECONDLY, THE NCRCOM SHALL STEP UP THE
READINESS AND PREPARATIONS OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
REGION TO BE ABLE TO MEET ANY FUTURE NATURAL
CALAMITY WHICH COULD BE BROUGHT ABOUT BY CLIMATE
CHANGE. WE SHALL ENSURE THAT COORDINATION WITH THE
METROPOLITAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, THE METRO
MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND OTHER AGENCIES OF
THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS NGO'S WILL BE MORE PROACTIVE
AND THE PROPER DISASTER PREPAREDNESS LEVELS
ARE PUT IN PLACE • THESE IMMEDIATE AND OTHER
CONCERNS ARE PART OF THE COMMAND THRUSTS AND
PRIORITIES THAT I SHALL BUCKLE DOWN TO IMMEDIATELY •
MY COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMAND, AND TO THE
ENTIRE AFP, IS TO BE FOCUSED ON LEADING, ORGANIZING,
TRAINING AND EQUIPPING THIS COMMAND TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THAT GREAT ADVANTAGE OUR SOLDIERS BRING IN
TODAY'S FIGHT, AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, TO THE FIGHTS
THAT LIE AHEAD BE IT IN TIMES OF PEACE OR CRISIS·
LIKE ANY OTHER COMMAND POSITION IN THE MILITARY,
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER JOB. WHAT I BRING TO IT IS MY
COMMITMENT TO THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS OF
SERVICE, MY DEDICATION TO THE MOTTO COURAGE,
INTEGRITY, AND LOYALTY TO THE FLAG AND THE
CONSTITUTION. SHOULD THERE COME A TIME WHEN EVEN
RIGHT TO FORM AN OPINION ON ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS HIM
OR HER, AND ALSO THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THAT OPINION,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS LEGITIMATE AND VALID, OR
MISGUIDED AND ERRONEOUS • AND WE, THE MILITARY, ARE
DUTY-BOUND TO PROTECT THE EXERCISE OF THOSE RIGHTS -
EVEN AS THE MILITARY, IN THE INTEREST OF IMPARTIALITY,
NON-PARTISANSHIP, AND PROFESSIONALISM, HAVE TO KEEP
OUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS TO OURSELVES. WHY? SIMPLY
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO ENFORCE OUR
OWN OPINIONS - THAT CAPACITY TO BACK IT UP WITH LETHAL
FORCE. ON THE OTHER HAND, CERTAIN QUARTERS OF OUR
SOCIETY, AND SOME EXTERNAL INFLUENCES, DO THREATEN
THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE STATE THROUGH
ARMED AND OTHERWISE DANGEROUS WAYS AND MEANS •
THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE MILITARY IS SIMPLY TO
STOP OR PREVENT SUCH THREATS FROM ACTUALLY HARMING
THE STATE AND ITS CITIZENS. THE POLITICAL EFFECTS AND
REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT FUNCTION DO NOT CONCERN THE
MILITARY, BECAUSE THAT IS THE DOMAIN OF THE POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTRY - BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE OPPOSITION • BOTH ARE NEEDED TO PRODUCE A
NATIONAL POLICY THAT IS ABLE TO ADEQUATELY CONSIDER
ALL POSSIBLE SIDES, AND STRIVE TO BENEFIT ALL QUARTERS.
OFTENTIMES, THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS MARGINALIZES THE
MILITARY AND PRACTICALLY DECREASES ITS CAPABILITY TO
EFFECTIVELY MEET AND NEUTRALIZE EVERY SECURITY
THREAT • THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY EVOLVE AND
DEVELOP, JUST AS THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE ARE
CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND CHANGING·
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORAL FOUNDATION OF
THE ENTIRE DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNTRY IS
THE CONSTITUTION, PROVIDING THE MANDATE AND LEGAL
RIGHT TO EXERCISE THE STATE'S POWERS THAT ARE GIVEN
TO THE DEFENSE ESTABLISHMENT IN PURSUIT OF THEIR DUTY
AND MISSION • BUT THE CRITICISMS THAT THIS PROFESSIONAL
DUTY OF THE MILITARY IS NOT BEING DONE OR FOLLOWED
SCRUPULOUSLY USUALLY GAIN PUBLICITY MILEAGE AS PART
OF POLITICAL ATTACKS ON THE ADMINISTRATION • BY DOING
SO, HOWEVER, THESE CRITICS AND POLITICAL OPPONENTS,
ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT GOOD SOLDIERS ARE
AUTOMATONS AND LIVE ONLY TO FOLLOW ORDERS,
EXPEDIENTLY CAST ASIDE THE VALUES OF HONOR,
DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, SOLIDARITY, LEADERSHIP
AND PATRIOTISM THAT CAREER MILITARY OFFICERS HAVE
PAINSTAKINGLY NURTURED AND HONORABLY DEVELOPED
THROUGHOUT THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.·
THEY SEE THE MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND SYSTEMIC RIGIDITY
MANIFESTED FROM THE LOWEST RANKS OF ENLISTED
PERSONNEL UP TO THE HIGHEST-RANKING COMMANDERS AS
THE TOTAL SUBSERVIENCE OF THE MILITARY ORGANIZATION
AS A WHOLE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, RATHER THAN AS A
REQUIREMENT TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM ITS FUNDAMENTAL
MISSION, WHICH IS: TO PROTECT THE STATE; TO SAFEGUARD
ITS CITIZENS: AND TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE •
BUT OF COURSE, WE SAY THAT OURS IS A DEMOCRACY,
SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT
HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO. IN FACT, IT IS EVERY CITIZEN'S
CLASS OF '78, IS ANOTHER ITEM FOR CLOSE SCRUTINY,
PARTICULARLY UNDER THE POLITICALLY-TINTED LENSES OF
THOSE WHO ARE CRITICAL OF THE PRESENT DISPENSATION •
TO MY MIND, MILITARY COMMANDERS HAVE BEEN
SUBJECT TO POLITICALLY-INFLUENCED SCRUTINY AND
EVALUATION. AS THE RANK AND POSITION GETS HIGHER,
SUCH SCRUTINY BECOMES EVEN MORE ACUTE AND SEVERE •
BUT, AS WE ALL SHOULD KNOW, THE COMMAND POSTING OF
QUALIFIED MILITARY OFFICERS ARE MADE UPON
APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATION ON THE BASIS OF
PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITY, TRACK RECORD AND
ACCEPTABILITY TO THE PREVAILING AUTHORITIES BOTH IN
THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES •
THIS PROCESS HIGHLIGHTS NOT ONLY THE MERIT SYSTEM OF
MILITARY CAREER ADVANCEMENT, BUT ALSO THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF LEADERSHIP IN THE AFP • STILL, THERE
WILL ALWAYS BE CERTAIN SPECULATIONS BY THOSE ON THE
OUTSIDE WHO IMPUTE CERTAIN CONCLUSIONS UPON THE
DECISIONS AND ACTIONS OF THOSE IN AUTHORITY AND
POWER; AND LIKEWISE, WHATEVER THE REASONS THAT
SUPPORT THE DECISION AND CHOICE OF THOSE IN
AUTHORITY AND POWER FOR APPOINTING THE COMMANDING
OFFICER, HIS ONLY OBLIGATION IS TO FAITHFULLY EXECUTE
THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE TO WHICH
HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED - AND THEREBY UPHOLD THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW • FURTHER STRETCHING THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF
GOVERNMENT .
IS MY INTENT THEREFORE TO CONSULT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNITS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND
OTHER SECURITY PARTNERS, IN COMING UP WITH A
FRAMEWORK OF SECURITY AND ORDER FOR NCR . IN
SUPPORT TO THIS, WE SHALL REINFORCE NETWORKS WITH
OUR STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL
SOCIETY .
IN VIEW OF THIS, THE COMING DAYS SHALL SEE NCRCOM
MAKING SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND IN SOME WAYS REDEFINING
ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE. OUR RESOURCES SHALL BE APPLIED
IN LARGE MEASURE FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIVES,
LIBERTIES, AND PROPERTIES AS WELL AS THE SEAT OF
GOVERNMENT . LIKEWISE, THESE RESOURCES SHALL BE SO
DEPLOYED TO ENGENDER UNHAMPERED PURSUIT OF
PRODUCTIVE ENDEAVORS AND OUR DEMOCRATIC WAY OF
LIFE .
LET ME NOW DELVE ON THE HAZY SIDE - BY THE
NCRCOM'S CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CENTERS OF
AUTHORITY AND POWER, HOWEVER, SOME SECTORS OF THE
GENERAL PUBLIC ARE WARY OF THE COMMAND AS THEY DO
PRACTICALLY FOR THE WHOLE AFP . THUS, MY POSTING TO
THIS COMMAND, COMING AS IT DOES ON THE HEELS OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE CGPA
AND WITH ALL OF US COMING FROM THE PMA MAKATARUNGAN
COHESION IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION AND ITS
ENVIRONS •
AS SUCH, I SEE TWO MAJOR ROLES FOR NCRCOM: A
PROTECTIVE ROLE AND A PRODUCTIVE ROLE. IN TANDEM WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN METRO MANILA, NCRCOM IS
EXPECTED TO PERFORM THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTION
OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS THE PROTECTION OF ITS PEOPLE
AND THEIR PROPERTY AGAINST ACTS OF AGGRESSION. WHEN
ITS PROTECTIVE ROLE IS WELL PERFORMED, NCRCOM
PERFORMS A PRODUCTIVE ROLE BY CATALYZING ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY AND IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY OF THE CITIZENS IT
PROTECTS • THESE CATALYTIC ACTIONS SHALL PROSPER
UNDER A SECURED ENVIRONMENT CONGENIAL TO SOCIOECONOMIC
ENTERPRISE •
PERFORMANCE OF THESE ROLES AND ACHIEVEMENT OF
THEIR GOALS, WE ALL KNOW, IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK •
THREATS TO THEIR ATTAINMENT ABOUND. WE IN THE
MILITARY CANNOT ADDRESS SECURITY CHALLENGES ALONE •
IT IS PRUDENT THAT WE ENGAGE SECURITY PARTNERS TO
DEVELOP PLANS AND CONDUCT OPERATIONS FROM A SHARED
PERSPECTIVE AND POSSIBLY THROUGH POOLED RESOURCES
• CONCEIVABLY, THIS CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING A MORE
PERMANENT SECURITY FRAMEWORK THAT INCLUDES
COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD STRATEGIC CONCEPTS,
OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES, RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
AGENCIES, AND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • IN SO DOING,
WE SHALL BRING SYNERGY IN OUR INITIATIVES AND AVOID
LIKE EVERY COMMANDER SINCE THE BIRTH OF THIS
STRONG COMMAND IN 2003, I STAND ON THE EXPANSIVE
SHOULDERS OF MY PREDECESSORS, THE MOST RECENT OF
WHOM IS LTGEN REY MAPAGU, WHOSE RESPECTIVE STINTS
FOR THE PAST YEARS HAVE SEEN THE GROWTH OF THIS VERY
IMPORTANT COMMAND • TAKING OFF FROM THEIR LEAD, I
SHALL CARRY ON WITH THEIR LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP AND
PROMISE TO PURSUE THE IDEALS THAT THIS COMMAND, AND
THE ENTIRE AFP, HAS ADHERED TO· INDEED, I AM HUMBLED
BY THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE BESTOWED ON ME BY THE
NATIONAL, DEFENSE AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP ESPECIALLY
AT THIS TIME WHEN THE PHILIPPINES IS HOLDING ITS FIRST
AUTOMATED NATIONAL ELECTORAL EXERCISE. LET ME THEN
ASSURE EVERYONE THAT AS TRUE PROFESSIONALS FAITHFUL
TO OUR SACRED OATH, I SHALL ENSURE THAT MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMAND SHALL ADHERE TO OUR AFP LEADERSHIPS'
GUIDANCE TO REMAIN NON-PARTISAN AND PERFORM OUR
DUTIES IN ENSURING HONEST, ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL
ELECTIONS •
I AM EQUALLY HUMBLED BY THE COMMANDS DAUNTING
MISSION OF SECURING THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT WHILE
ENSURING A PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY SOUND
ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION. IN THAT REGARD. THIS
COMMAND HELPS SHAPE AN ATMOSPHERE FAVORABLE TO
POLITICAL STABILITY, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SOCIAL
OUR LIVES ARE PUT ON THE LINE IN THE PURSUIT OF OUR DUTY, THEN AS SOLDIERS OF THE REPUBLIC WE ARE READY AND WILLING TO MAKE THAT SACRIFICE • WE SHALL
STAND OUR WATCH AS TRUE PROFESSIONALS MINDFUL OF
OUR SOLEMN OATH TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND TO
PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND THE STATE. WE ONLY ASK THAT
WE BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND TO BE
ALLOWED TO DO OUR JOB AS WE SEE FIT BECAUSE WE
BELIEVE THAT THAT IS OUR DUE •
TO ALL THE SECTORS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, HEAR
THE AFP SOLDIER'S PATRIOTIC APPEAL - TOGETHER, LET US
WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY TO OUR UTMOST BEST AND DELIVER
OUR BELOVED COUNTRY TO THE PEDESTAL OF RESPECT AND
ADMIRATION OF THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY·
MAGANDANG UMAGA AT MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT.
-END-
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