BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office
LTGEN RICARDO A DAVID JR AFP, the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines visited the Navy Headquarters on 06 July 2010. Instead of a ceremonial parade and review, the new AFP Chief opted to have a dialogue with the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees of the Navy. The visit was capped with a meeting between REAR ADMIRAL DANILO M CORTEZ AFP, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy and the top brass.
The Chief of Staff stressed in his first visit that the impending reshuffle in the AFP leadership is necessary in connection with the retirement of the three most senior military officers in the organization, GEN DELFIN N BANGIT, LTGEN RODRIGO MACLANG and VADM EMILIO C MARAYAG JR. He said that those who will be selected to occupy positions with greater responsibilities will be undergoing a selection process and will be recommended by the Boards of Generals.
LTGEN DAVID also said that we need to calibrate our campaign plan in order for the AFP to defeat the NPA and finish the ISO problem in the soonest time possible. In line with this, LTGEN DAVID also mentioned President Benigno C Aquino III and Secretary Voltaire Gazmin’s instructions to reexamine and reassess modernization so the Philippine Navy can also acquire new platforms capable of addressing and helping the PN accomplish its mission. He encouraged the judicious use of our resources, transparency, and accountability in management of our resources. By this we can also uplift the morale and welfare of our men by providing good housing benefits to them and attend to the claims of our retirees and the widows and dependents of our soldiers
LTGEN DAVID also mentioned the increase in pay of the members of the AFP effective this month so we need to bring it back by giving better services to our people. He also reiterated the no “Wang-Wang policy” of the President that as citizens we must go follow traffic regulations.
In closing, LTGEN DAVID urged the officers and personnel to work as a team, to have faith that the AFP is in the right direction. “Our cooperation is very essential in the realization of the vision for a better Armed Forces of the Philippines”.
