PGMA's Speech during the 23rd Commencement Exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)

PGMA's Speech during the 23rd Commencement Exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)

Camp General Mariano N. Casta-eda Silang, Cavite (15 April 2002)

MARAMING SALAMAT, SECRETARY LINA SA IYUNG NAPAKAGANDANG PAGPAKILALA AT SA IYUNG PAGPAHAYAG NG MGA NAABOT NA NG ATING ADMINISTRASYON AT SA IYUNG PAGHINGIL NA TAYO'Y MAGKAISA UPANG MATULOY ANG ATING LABAN KONTRA SA KAHIRAPAN NA MATAGUMPAY.

CADET FIRST CAPTAIN, PLEASE GIVE 'TIKAS PAHINGA'.

KAGALANG-GALANG NA PANGALAWANG PANGULO NG PILIPINAS, VICE PRESIDENT TEOFISTO GUINGONA; ANG ATING PNP CHIEF, SI GENERAL LEANDRO MENDOZA; ANG DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL NG PNP, SI GENERAL EBDANE; ANG ATING PANGULO NG PUBLIC SAFETY COLLEGE, SI GENERAL RAMSEY OCAMPO; ANG ATING NAMUMUNO NG PNPA, SI GENERAL ALEJANDRO GUTIERREZ. AY! TAMA; AT 'YUNG IBANG MGA OFFICIALS NITONG PAARALAN NA ITO; SI GOVERNOR MALIKSI; SI CONGRESSMAN ABAYA; SI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER SARINO; SI PUNONGBAYAN NAPOLEON BERATIO; AT IBA-IBANG MGA OFFICIALS NG LALAWIGAN NG CAVITE AT NG BAYAN NG SILANG; MGA MAGULANG NG ATING MGA NAGTATAPOS ITONG ARAW NA ITO; ATING MGA BAGONG POLICE OFFICERS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ISANG MALAKING PAGBATI ANG PINAPA-ABOT KO SA LAHAT NG MGA NAGTAPOS SA CLASS 'SINAG-LAYA' NG PNP ACADEMY. CONGRATULATIONS! SA INYONG LAHAT.

ANG PANAHON NG PAGTATAPOS AY PANAHON NG PAGPAPASALAMAT. UNANG-UNA, NAGPAPASALAMAT TAYO SA INYONG MGA MAGULANG, GURO AT ADMINISTRADOR. AT AKO NAMAN AY NAGPAPASALAMAT NA KAYO MGA GRADUATING STUDENTS PINILI NINYO MAGLINGKOD SA ATING BANSA BILANG POLICE PROFESSIONALS. SUSUBAYBAYAN KO ANG INYONG MGA KARERA DAHIL NGAYON AKO ANG INYONG COMMANDER- IN-CHIEF. INAASAHAN KO NA KAYONG MGA BAGONG PULIS, TAYONG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN, AT LAHAT TAYONG PILIPINO AY MAGTUTULUNG-TULONGAN UPANG MAGAPI ANG KAHIRAPAN, MASUGPO ANG KRIMINALIDAD, AT MAKAMIT ANG KATAHIMIKAN SA BUONG BANSA.

OH! BY THE WAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO LT. GEN. GREGORIO CAMILING, REPRESENTING THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.

WE ARE ALL PROUD OF YOU. AND NOW, WE EXPECT MUCH OF YOU. WE EXPECT YOU TO FIGHT CRIMINALITY WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT WITHIN THE LAW. BUT WE ALSO EXPECT YOU TO SHOW TEMPERANCE, RESTRAINT AND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF PROVOCATION AND DANGER. WE EXPECT YOU TO WIELD THE IRON HAND OF THE LAW, BUT WE ALSO EXPECT YOU TO WIELD IT IN FULL RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. WE EXPECT FROM YOU LOYALTY, REFORM AND ACHIEVEMENT. WE EXPECT THESE TO BE THE HALLMARK OF YOUR WORK AS POLICE PROFESSIONALS.

YOU HAVE ALL THE REASON TO HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELVES THAT YOU WILL MEET THESE EXPECTATIONS. YOU HAVE ALL THE REASON IN THE WORLD TO BE HAPPY WITH YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY THE SIX RECIPIENTS OF OUR AWARDS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. YOUR ENTRY INTO THE RANKS OF POLICE OFFICERS WILL REINFORCE OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD A COMPETENT, EFFICIENT AND TRULY PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCE.

I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE ROLE MODELS IN PNP CHIEF LARRY MENDOZA AND THE OTHER POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE HERE ON THIS STAGE TODAY. BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN IN MY ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY PRODUCE RESULTS QUIETLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. IN THE FACE OF STEEP CONSTRAINTS THEIR MORALE IS ENDURING. I THANK THEM AND I CONGRATULATE THEM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR MAINTAINING AND EVEN SURPASSING THEIR STANDARDS GRADUATES OF SINAG-LAYA CLASS 2002.

HALF OF OUR AWARDEES TODAY ARE WOMEN. THIS IS A GOOD SIGN OF GENDER EQUALITY IN YOUR ACADEMY. AND I AM INSTRUCTING GENERAL MENDOZA TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WOMEN ARE NOT STREAMED MOSTLY TO ADMINISTRATIVE JOBS. I WANT THE WOMEN IN THE POLICE TO BE IN OPERATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE. LIKE EVERYONE IN YOUR RANKS I AM SURE ARE POLICEWOMEN ARE CAPABLE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS IN THE STREETS.

MAALAALA KO TULOY IYUNG ISANG LUMANG TELEVISION SERIES, IYUNG "CHARLIE'S ANGELS." DOON SA SIMULA NG PROGRAM -- NGAYON, ALAM KO NA MAY CHARLIE'S ANGELS, SI... SINO NGA BA 'YON? SINA CAMERON DIAZ. PERO NUNG PANAHON NAMIN SINA FARRAH FAWCETT -- 'YUNG OPENING NG PROGRAMA MAY NAGSASABING, "ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE THREE LITTLE GIRLS, AND THEY GRADUATED FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY." PAGKATAPOS MAY MGA SCENES PINAPAKITA, SI FARRAH FAWCETT TINATAMBAKAN NG PAPER WORK SA KANIYANG MESA. 'YUNG ISA NAMAN AY PINAPAKITA NA TINUTULANGAN 'YUNG MGA BATANG MALIIT NA TUMAWID NG KALSADA. IBIG SABIHIN NOON PAG-GRADUATE NILA BINIGYAN SILA NANG MGA ROUTINARY JOBS. PERO PAGKATAPOS NAMAN SABI NG BOSES, "BUT I TOOK THEM AWAY FROM ALL THAT. AND NOW, THEY WORK FOR ME." PAGKATAPOS, 'YUNG EPISODE AY TUNGKOL SA MGA KANILANG TRABAHO LABAN SA MGA KRIMINAL. KAYA 'YON AY PARA BANG PINAPAKITA NA NUNG PANAHONG 'YON AY MERON PANG PREJUDICE SA MGA BABAENG PULIS.

NGAYON, SA ATING ARMED FORCES, THE WOMEN NOW ARE QUITE VISIBLE IN COMBAT DUTY, AND I HOPE TO SEE THE SAME IN THE POLICE. WE NEED MORE WOMEN NOT ONLY IN THE OFFICE BUT OUT THERE IN THE STREETS. NOT ONLY TO DIRECT TRAFFIC BUT TO FIGHT CRIMINALS. I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN SO THAT THE WOMEN WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME HEROES AND LEADERS. MAYBE THIS BATCH WITH THREE HONOR STUDENTS AMONG WOMEN WILL SOMEDAY HAVE A WOMAN LEAD THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE. BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THIS BATCH BEFORE I SEE ANOTHER WOMAN POLICE GENERAL. AT HINDI LANG 'YUNG MGA KABABAIHAN ANG GUSTO KONG LUMABAS SA OPISINA AT PUMUNTA SA LANSANGAN. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE ARE TO FIGHT CRIME MORE EFFECTIVELY THERE SHOULD BE LESS OFFICE WORK AND MORE OPERATIONS WORK. THERE SHOULD BE MORE POLICEMEN OUT IN THE STREETS THAN IN THE HEADQUARTERS.

AND IN POLICE WORK ALLIANCES ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE MUST STRIVE TO EXPAND AND DEEPEN THEM. THE POLICE OFFICER'S JOB ENTAILS MAXIMUM EXPOSURE TO ALMOST ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY. TOGETHER WITH THESE SECTORS MUCH WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE:

WE MUST ROOT OUT TERRORISM. AND TO DO THIS, WE MUST WORK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY;
WE MUST RETURN THE REPUTATION OF MANILA AND THE PHILIPPINES AS A WELCOMING AND SAFE PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND DO BUSINESS;
WE MUST INCREASE THE BENEFITS FROM OUR NEW GLOBAL RELEVANCE AND ENGAGEMENT AFTER YEARS OF BEING ISOLATED AND ADRIFT.

GAYA NANG SABI NI JOEY LINA, DATI-DATI ANG ATING RATING SA BUONG MUNDO AY NEGATIVE. NGAYON, STABLE NA. LET US MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF THIS NEW RATING.

DEAR GRADUTES OF SINAG-LAYA CLASS 2002, FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT YOU ARE COMMISSIONED AS A POLICE OFFICER -- WHICH IS TODAY -- YOU BECOME A LEADER AND AN AGENT OF CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, YOU HAVE THE DUTY NOT ONLY TO FIGHT CRIME, BUT ALSO TO PREVENT CRIME. YOU HAVE THE DUTY TO SET AN EXAMPLE, AND YOU HAVE THE DUTY TO HELP THE PUBLIC RESOLVE PROBLEMS.

BECAUSE OF THESE MULTIPLE DUTIES OF POLICE OFFICERS, I INSTRUCTED THE POLICE DURING THERE ANNIVERSARY TO TAKE THE LEAD IN PLAYING... IN ORGANIZING VISIBLE, SUSTAINED OUTREACH AND EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS PARTICULARLY FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL, OUT-OF-WORK URBAN POOR YOUTH. THE POLICE IS DOING THIS NOW IN THE CENTRAL POLICE DISTRICT UNDER THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DISTRICT DIRECTOR GENERAL TOR; IN BAGUIO CITY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL ALI„O; IN IBA, ZAMBALES AND CABANATUAN CITY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL BERROYA; AND IN THE SOUTHERN TAGALOG TOWNS AND CITIES BORDERING ON METRO MANILA UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL REYES, WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY. I HOPE MANY GRADUATES OF PNPA WILL BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT BECAUSE YOU ARE YOUNG LIKE THE YOUNG THAT WE WANT TO EMPLOY AND KEEP OUT OF HARM'S WAY AMONG THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH. SABI NGA NI GENERAL MENDOZA NGAYON GAGAWIN NIYA ITONG NATIONWIDE PROGRAM FOR THE URBAN POOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH.

STUDENTS OF SINAG-LAYA CLASS 2002, YOUR GRADUATION IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE YOU SYMBOLIZE OUR GOAL TO SUSTAIN OUR LONG-TERM PROGRAM TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE PNP. LAST YEAR, I INSTRUCTED GENERAL RAMSEY OCAMPO TO PUT TOGETHER A NEW CURRICULUM FOR PNPA. I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT I SHOULD INSTRUCT NEW BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES TO BE PUT UP. I SAID, "NO." BEFORE THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, FIRST THE MENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE. IF WE ARE GOING TO PUT NEW PHYSICAL FACILITIES IT MUST BEFORE LABORATORY EQUIPMENT SO THAT WE CAN USE FORENSICS TO FIGHT CRIME BETTER.

LAST YEAR, TOO I ASKED GENERAL MENDOZA TO HIRE NEW PERSONNEL, AND HE DID. 1,700 NEW PERSONNEL ALL COLLEGE GRADUATES. THEY MADE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE IN MALL ASSIGNMENTS LAST CHRISTMAS. AND I BELIEVE LAST CHRISTMAS WAS A VERY PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS FOR THOSE DOING THEIR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN THE MALLS. AND, NOW THIS YEAR, HE IS HIRING SOME MORE.

WE ARE INCREASING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDING THOSE PROMOTING EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS. ASIDE FROM THE NEW CURRICULUM FOR PNPA, I ALSO INSTRUCTED THE PUBLIC SAFETY COLLEGE TO ADD A SPECIALIZATION COURSE ON CRIME INVESTIGATION AND DETECTION TO BE SUBSIDIZED BY PAGCOR.

MY RECENT VISIT TO LONDON EARLY THIS YEAR ALSO RESULTED IN THE COMMITMENT BY PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR FOR SCOTLAND YARD TO HELP THE PNP BUILD UP THE SKILLS AND CAPACITY TO FIGHT KIDNAPPING AND OTHER ORGANIZED CRIMES. GENERAL FIANZA HAS JUST RETURNED FROM LONDON WHERE HE AND THE SCOTLAND YARD OFFICIALS WORKED OUT THE DETAILS OF THIS CURRICULUM, AND SOON THIS TRAINING PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. I HAVE ALSO ASKED HIM TO MAKE A FORMAL PROPOSAL TO THE HONG KONG POLICE FOR A SIMILAR TRAINING.

POLICE DUTIES REQUIRE SPECIAL TECHNICAL AND PHYSICAL SKILLS AS WELL AS VERSATILITY IN HUMAN RELATIONS. IT ALSO REQUIRES IMPECCABILITY OF PERSONAL CONDUCT AND SUPREME COURAGE UNDER FIRE. POLICE DUTY COULD RANGE FROM THE MOST MENIAL JOBS -- LIKE FARRAH FAWCETT'S JOB THERE IN THE BEGINNING OF CHARLIE'S ANGELS -- OR ALSO WHAT MANY POLICEMEN CONSIDER VERY MENIAL LIKE CLEARING THE STREETS OF ILLEGAL VENDORS OR RAIDING JUETENG JOINTS. THEN IT GOES ON THE OTHER SIDE TO THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES SUCH AS RUNNING GUNBATTLES WITH THE MOST TENACIOUS CRIMINAL SYNDICATES.

MANY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DIED AND MORE ARE CALLED TO THE FRONTLINE. I KNOW THE STEEP SACRIFICES YOU WILL BE CALLED UPON TO TAKE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR READINESS TO RISE TO THE CALL OF DUTY.

IN RETURN LAST YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO GET A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET FROM CONGRESS -- AND I THANK CONGRESS AND ABAYA, AND OTHER CONGRESSMEN FOR BEING SO KIND -- TO FINALLY CARRY OUT A NEW SALARY SCALE FOR THE POLICE. AND THIS YEAR, CONGRESS FURTHER PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL BUDGET. THUS, AS POLICE OFFICERS, YOU THE GRADUATES OF SINAG-LLAYA CLASS 2002, WILL BE ENJOYING AN UPGRADED SALARY SCALE EQUAL TO THAT OF TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I ALSO KNOW THE DIFFICULTIES YOU HAVE HURDLED IN THIS ACADEMY, BUT YOU MUST CONSIDER THESE AS MERE SAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY ENCOUNTER ON THE JOB. NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO LIVE UP TO THE PNPA's MOTTO: "TO LEARN TODAY, TO LEAD TOMORROW."

BUT IF YOU ARE TO LEAD, YOU MUST BY NOW HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF THE TOOLS YOU NEED -- NOT JUST YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR SKILLS, BUT THE MORAL IMPERATIVES OF YOUR WORK.

TODAY, AS I WAS GIVING OUT DIPLOMAS, YOUR CLASS GOAT, USING HIS TRADITIONAL PREROGATIVE TO DO SOMETHING UNUSUAL ASK ME IF I WOULD PARDON THE 15 OF YOUR BATCH -- WHO ARE NOT WITH YOU GRADUATING TODAY -- BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL BEING METTED OUT DISCIPLINE FOR GOING AWOL. AND I TOLD HIM, "WELL, LET ME THINK ABOUT IT. BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT ONE MUST LEARN IN THE PNP AND IN THE AFP FOR THAT MATTER IS DISCIPLINE."

THE DISCIPLINE REQUIRED OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES IS MUCH GREATER THAN THE DISCIPLINE REQUIRED OF ANY OTHER OCCUPATION. SABI KO NGA PARATI, KUNG IKAW AY MEDYO REBELDE SIGURO DOON KA SA U.P. MAG-APPLY. HUWAG SA PMA O HUWAG SA PNP ACADEMY. DAHIL SA U.P. ANG TANGING SANDATA AY UTAK, PERO SA PNP, SA PMA, SA MILITAR, SA PULIS MAY SANDATANG NAKAKAPATAY NG TAO --- THE FIREARMS THEMSELVES. THAT IS WHY THERE MUST BE A CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE, UNQUESTIONING DISCIPLINE TO GO WITH YOUR MENTAL ANG PHYSICAL TRAINING.

'YUNG DOON SA 'CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE', YUNG SINABING "THEIRS IS NOT TO REASON WHY, THEIRS IS BUT TO DO OR DIE" -- IYAN TALAGA ANG SIMBOLO NG DISCIPLINE, NG KULTURA NG UNIFORMED SERVICES.

ANG TANGING ORDER NA PUWEDE NIYONG TANGGIHAN AY 'YON LAMANG ORDER NA LABAG SA BATAS. KUNG LABAG SA WISDOM O LABAG SA OPINYON O LABAG SA INYONG POLICING PINANINIWALAAN, HINDI PUWEDENG MAGLABAG SA ORDER. YOURS IS NOT TO REASON WHY EXCEPT WHEN IT IS TOTALLY AND PROBABLY AGAINST THE LAW.

KAYA PINAPAIRAL NATIN ANG DISIPLINA. ITONG LABING LIMA NA HINDI PA NAGGA-GRADUATE, MAGGA-GRADUATE SILA SA HUNYO, PAGKATAPOS SILANG MAGLINGKOD NG KANILANG MGA PUNISHMENT NA KASALUKUYANG GINAGANAP.

AND LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHAT MY FATHER, THE LATE PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL TOLD ME ABOUT PRIORITIES IN PUBLIC SERVICE. HE SAID, "IT MUST BE GOD FIRST, THAT'S MORALITY; THEN COUNTRY, THESE ARE THE WISE POLICIES; AND FAMILY LAST." THIS MEANS THAT YOUR JOB IS NOT TO USE LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A MEANS FOR SELF- AGGRANDIZEMENT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

A PUBLIC SERVANT'S FAMILY MUST BE SELF-EFFACING RATHER THAN SELF-AGGRANDIZING, AND THIS GOES FOR THE POLICE AS WELL. KEEP YOUR FAMILY OUT OF YOUR WORK. BECAUSE YOU'VE ANOTHER KIND OF FAMILY IN YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAMATIC RISE OF THE NUMBER OF CIVIC, RELIGIOUS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE PNP, THEY ARE YOUR FAMILY IN YOUR WORK.

THE INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR OF THE POLICE OFFICER IN THE STREET MAKES OR BREAKS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. THE INTERFACE OF THE POLICE OFFICER AND THE ORDINARY CITIZEN IS THE MOST CRITICAL COMPONENT OF POLICE CREDIBILITY.

THE BASIC IMAGE OF A DIGNIFIED, HONEST, COURTEOUS BUT FIRM AND INCORRUPTIBLE POLICE OFFICER IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I TRUST THAT YOU -- SINAG-LAYA CLASS 2002 -- WILL LIVE UP TO THIS IMAGE, BECAUSE I TRUST IN YOUR SENSE OF DUTY. I BELIEVE IN THE GREAT FILIPINO POLICE OFFICER.

I BELIEVE IN THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER. WHETHER IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE OR IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR; WHETHER IN INDUSTRIES OR IN THE FARMS OR IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CALL CENTERS; WHETHER IN POLICE UNIFORM OR IN THE UTILITY WORKER'S T-SHIRT. THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER IS A PILLAR OF EXCELLENCE IMBUED WITH A STRONG SENSE OF SACRIFICE, DISCIPLINE AND PROFESSIONALISM.

YOU HAVE MY UNREMITTING FAITH AND MY COMMITMENT TO PUSH OUR COMMON QUEST FORWARD. IN COOPERATION WITH ALL THE PILLARS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE MUST STRENGTHEN THE RULE OF LAW PERMANENTLY THROUGHOUT THE REPUBLIC.

YOUR TASK WILL BE DIFFICULT AND FULL OF PITFALLS, BUT YOU MUST NOT ABANDON IT. MUSTERING A SUPREME SENSE OF DUTY, AND STRENGTHENED BY THE UNITY AND SUPPORT OF THE POLICE AND THE INSTITUTIONS OF GOOD GOVERNMENT, HELP ME BRING JUSTICE, LAW AND ORDER, AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALL CORNERS OF THE LAND.

YES, YOUR CHOSEN CAREER IS DIFFICULT, THE SACRIFICES ARE STEEP. BUT WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE LAW IN THE HANDS OF CREDIBLE ENFORCERS, PEOPLE WILL OBEY AND RESPECT THE LAW. I HAVE FAITH THAT YOU WILL HOLD THE LINE OF COURAGE AND INTEGRITY.

YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO FIGHT THE LAWLESS. BUT BEYOND THAT YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN TRAINED TO KEEP THE PEACE IN THE COMMUNITY -- TO SETTLE CONFLICTS, PREVENT ABUSE AND UPHOLD THE SYSTEM OF JUSTICE.

IN YOUR CHOSEN CAREER, KNOW THAT THERE IS NO GAUGE OF EXCELLENCE BUT ACHIEVEMENT. THERE IS NO OVERLORD BUT THE PEOPLE. IN SERVING THE PEOPLE, YOU MUST EXEMPLIFY THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.

MANY TIMES I HAVE OUTLINED WHAT I BELIEVE ARE THE THREE PILLARS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE: FIRST, A SOUND MORAL FOUNDATION TO GUIDE LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING THE LEVEL OF POLICE OFFICERS; SECOND, A PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSPARENCY IN ALL GOVERNMENT TRANSACTIONS, INCLUDING POLICE WORK; THIRD, AN ETHIC OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE BUREAUCRACY, INCLUDING THE POLICE FORCE. THESE MUST BE THE PILLARS THAT MUST STRENGTHEN THE PNP AND FOR THAT MATTER THE BFP, THE BJMP, THE PNPA, THE PPSC AND ALL OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

SA PAGTULUNGAN NG LAHAT, MALAKI ANG PAG-ASANG DARATING NA ANG LIWANAG NG ATING KINABUKASAN.

ANG AKING PANGARAP PARA SA ATING KINABUKASAN AY SANA MASUGPO NATIN ANG KAHIRAPAN NG ATING BANSA SA LOOB NG ISANG DEKADA. UPANG MAKAMIT ITO, ANG ATING PROGRAMA NG GOBYERNO AY MAY APAT NA BAHAGI: UNA, IPAIRAL ANG FREE ENTERPRISE NA BAGAY SA SIGLO BEINTE-UNO DAHIL ITO ANG MAGPAPADAMI NG TRABAHO; PANGALAWA, I-MODERNIZE ANG ATING AGRIKULTURA SANDAL SA SOCIAL EQUITY NA NAKARARAMI SA ATING MGA MAHIHIRAP AY NASA KANAYUNAN; PANGATLO, KAMPIHAN ANG MGA SEKTOR NG KAPUSPALAD SA ATING PLANO NG KAUNLARAN; AT PANG-APAT, I-ANGAT ANG SUKAT NG MORALIDAD SA GOBYERNO AT SA LIPUNAN.

THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSION IS NEEDED IN ALL THESE FOUR ASPECTS OF OUR MEDIUM-TERM PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN. WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY TO BRING ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL PRODUCE JOBS. WE NEED PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE SO THAT FARMERS WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WE NEED THE POLICE TO DO COMMUNITY RELATIONS WORK THAT SERVE THE POOR DIRECTLY. WE NEED THE POLICE TO CARRY OUT THE RULE OF LAW IF WE WANT TO RAISE STANDARDS OF MORALITY IN GOVERNMENT AND IN SOCIETY.

AND AS LEADERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, I ASK YOU, HELP ME. SHARE MY VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. AND IF I MAY SUGGEST, A CHANGE IN YOUR MOTTO. I THINK IT SHOULD BE -- "TO LEARN TODAY, TO SERVE TOMORROW."

CONGRATULATIONS! AND THANK YOU.

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