PGMA's Speech during the Annual General Membership Meeting of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI)

PGMA's Speech during the Annual General Membership Meeting of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI)

AFP Theater (Tejeros Hall), Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (26 Jan 2002)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MARAMING SALAMAT SECRETARY ANGELO REYES SA IYONG NAKAKATAWANG PAGPAPAKILALA SA AKIN.

ALAM NINYO IYONG AKING PAGIGING GLORIA LABANDERA AT MAHILIG MAGSABON, IYON ANG SUBJECT MATTER NG AKING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION, NA HINDI NA AKO MAGSASABON LALO NA ANG AKING CABINET MEMBERS. NGAYON, TINANONG SA AKIN NI WINNIE MONSOD KUNG, "PAPAANO MONG GAGAWIN IYON?" EH DI SABI KO, KUNG GUSTO KONG MAGSABON MAGBIBILANG NA MUNA AKO ONE TO THIRTY. EH KANINA, IT SO HAPPENED NANDITO NA KAYO TINAWAGAN KO SI SECRETARY REYES ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. SO SABI NIYA, "MA'AM, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, PWEDE BA ITO ANG MAGIGING DISKURSO KO?" SO SINABI KO, PUWEDE NA. KASI SA LOOB LOOB KO -- NANDOON PA AKO SA BATANGAS NUNG SINABI NIYA IYON -- I COULD COUNT FROM 1 TO 30,000 BAGO AKO DUMATING DITO. PARA PAGDATING KO DITO HINDI NA AKO MAGAGALIT. HINDI KO NA SASABUNIN SI ANGIE REYES.(LAUGHTER)

NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO RIN KAY GENERAL MONTA„O DAHIL INIMBITA NIYA AKO NGAYON AT BINABATI KO SIYA. NAALALA KO NUNG ISANG TAON, HINDI BA SIYA ANG CHAIRMAN? PAGKATAPOS ALAM KO NGA NA SIYA ANG CHAIRMAN, DAHIL NOONG VICE PRESIDENT AKO, EARLY DAYS, SIYA NGA ANG CHAIRMAN. PAGKATAPOS NUNG NAGING GUEST AKO DITO SA BULWAGANG ITO, AH HINDI NA SIYA ANG CHAIRMAN. SABI KO, "ANO ANG NANGYARI KAY GENERAL MONTA„O?" NAG-RESIGN BILANG CHAIRMAN. AT KANINA SINABI KO, "GENERAL, HINDI BA NAG-LEAVE KAYO?" "HINDI," SABI NGA NIYA, "NAG-RESIGN NGA AKO LAST YEAR." KASI SABI NIYA, NANAWAGAN AKO SA RESIGNATION NUNG KASALUKUYANG PANGULO. EH SIYEMPRE MARAMI SA PM TRIPLE 'A' -- SABI NIYA -- AY NASA ACTIVE SERVICE. SO MAHIRAP NAMAN NA DADALHIN KO YUNG BUONG ASSOCIATION SA AKING PANAWAGAN ALANG-ALANG DOON SA MGA NASA ACTIVE SERVICE PA. PERO NGAYON NATUPAD 'YUNG KANYANG HANGARIN, NABALIK SIYA BILANG CHAIRMAN. SANA HUWAG KANG MAG-RESIGN, GENERAL MONTA„O BILANG CHAIRMAN. HUWAG MONG HINGIIN YUNG AKING RESIGNATION. (LAUGHTER)

BINABATI KO RIN SI CHRIS BALAWENG ANG INYONG PANGULO AT KINAKATAWAN, 'YUNG INCOMING JUBILARIAN, HINDI BA CHRIS? AT BINABATI KO RIN SIYA DAHIL SIYA ANG NAMUMUNO SA AFP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. AT AKO AY NASISIYAHAN NA SA WAKAS NALAGAY NA NATIN YUNG 5 BILLION PESOS SA INYONG TRUST FUND, AT ITONG TAONG ITO SA WAKAS NAGKAROON NG BUDGETARY ALLOCATION NG ANOTHER 5 BILLION PESOS, DAHIL SUPPOSED TO BE 10 BILLION PESOS EVERY YEAR YUNG TRUST FUND NA ITO.

NAGPANUKALA NGA AKO NA 10 BILLION PESOS SANA YUNG ILALAGAY NILA, NG MGA CONGRESSMEN AND SENATOR. PERO SABI NILA MERON PA NAMANG 5 BILLION SO MAGDADAGDAG NA LANG KAMI NG 5 BILLION AT GAGAWIN NATING REVOLVING FUND. SO AS YOU SPEND THE AMOUNT THEN THEY WILL KEEP ADDING ALSO AND ALLOCATING PARA GANOON 10 BILLION ALL THE TIME MERON KAYONG GAGASTUSIN SA AFP MODERNIZATION. EH PERO KUNG NUNG ARAW PA SIGURO NAGKAROON TAYO NG AFP MODERNIZATION, NUNG UNANG NATUPAD 'YUNG BATAS, HINDI SANA SIGURO TAYO NAGDEDEBATE TUNGKOL SA 'BALIKATAN' DOON SA WESTERN MINDANAO. GANOON PA MAN TAMANG-TAMA NA MAGKASAMA TAYO DITO NGAYON DAHIL TAMANG-TAMA PAG-UUSAPAN NATIN YUNG MGA BAGAY KUNG SAAN NASA FRONTPAGE NA NAMAN ANG ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.

KANINA BINANGGIT NI GENERAL MONTA„O YUNG AKING UNANG PAKIKIPAGSAMA DITO SA PM TRIPLE 'A' NUNG AKO AY NAGING PANGULO NA. KASI BAGO AKO NAGING PANGULO ILANG BESES NA NGA AKO NAGING PANAUHIN NG PM TRIPLE 'A' WHETHER THE ASSOCIATION AS A WHOLE O NUNG MGA IBA'T-IBANG MGA KLASE NINYO. AT NOON PA NGA, NUNG UNANG PUMUNTA AKO SA ANNIVERSARY NG PM TRIPLE 'A' DOON SA BAGUIO AT NAKIPAG-MARTSA AKO SA AKING CLASS, CLASS '78. YUNG TINATANONG NI ANGIE, "BA'T YON ANG KLASENG PINILI?" EH MARAMING NAGTATANONG DIN. SA KATOTOHANAN, PINILI KO YUNG KLASE -- NO, INIMBITA AKO NG CLASS '78 -- DAHIL MARAMI SA KANILA DOON NANGGAGALING SA CLASS '78 YUNG AKING MGA AIDE D' CAMPS. AT SO, NAALALA KO, KAYA SIYEMPRE DAHIL KAUGNAY KO SILA ARAW-ARAW 'DI NUNG NAGKAKA-REUNION SILA AT GUSTONG HUMANAP KUNG SINO ANG I-AADOPT NA CLASSMATE, AKO NGA ANG PINILI. NAAALALA KO NGA SI GENERAL WYCOCO --WALA SIYA RITO, ANO? -- CLASS '68. SA KATOTOHANAN TALAGANG MAS MATANDA AKO KAYSA DOON SA CLASS '78. EH KASI SA COLLEGE CLASS '68 AKO. KAYA SABI NI WYCOCO NOON, "NAKU! KUNG ALAM LANG NAMIN SANA NA AVAILABLE KA MAGING MEMBER OF THE CLASS SANA KINUHA KA NG CLASS '68." "WELL, SORRY NA LANG WYCS MAS MAY FORESIGHT ITONG MGA BAGONG GENERATION." (LAUGHTER) AT PINILI NA NGA NILA AKO HINDI PA NGA AKO PANGULO. PERO SA PAMAMAGITAN NILA ANG DAMI KO NAMANG NAKILALANG IBA'T-IBANG MGA KLASE. FIRST, YUNG MGA CONTINGENT CLASSES -- CLASS '76, CLASS '79, GANOON. PAGKATAPOS PARAMI NG PARAMI ANG NAKIKILALA KO. KAYA ANGIE, KUNG AKO MASYADO NAKIKI-ALAM SA IYO SA MGA PROMOTION, SORRY NA LANG, KASI ANG DAMI-DAMI KO NANG MGA KILALA. AT KILALA KO KUNG SINO YUNG MABAIT, AT KILALA KO KUNG SINO YUNG, YUNG, WELL, HINDI NAMAN MASYADONG MABAIT. PERO KILALA KO RIN ANG BUONG PMA MASASABI KO AS A WHOLE. AT MASASABI KO NA KUNG YUNG PAGKABAYANI NI ANGIE REYES NA GINAWA NIYA TOGETHER WITH THE MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS NUNG JANUARY 19. YUNG PAGKABAYANING PINAKITA NILA AY YON TALAGA ANG PAGKABAYANI NG BUONG PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY ALUMNI. AYUN NA NGA YUNG HALIMBAWA NI GENERAL MONTA„O. KAYA SABI NGA NI GENERAL MONTA„O NUNG AKO'Y NAGING PANGULO, ONE WEEK AFTER, NANDITO AKO KASAMA NINYO PARA MAGPASALAMAT.

INDEED, SEVEN DAYS, ONE WEEK AFTER I WAS SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT, YOU MADE ME GUEST OF HONOR AT YOUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND MEETING, KAGAYA NITO. AND IT WAS YOUR WAY THEN OF ENDORSING MY ASSUMPTION OF THE PRESIDENCY. AND SINCE THEN, I AM VERY GRATEFUL YOU HAVE CONSTANTLY STOOD BY ME. EVEN AT TIMES WHEN RUMOR MILLS WERE USED TO CONFUSE AND INTIMIDATE THE PUBLIC, MOST OF YOU OPENLY SUPPORTED MY INITIATIVES FOR OUR ARMED FORCES AND FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.

FELLOW CAVALIERS, THANK YOU FOR THE UNSTINTING SUPPORT.

THE NATION IS INDEBTED DEEPLY TO THE SOLDIER. THE ARMED FORCES' SUPPORT FOR A NEW PRESIDENT UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF CONSTITUTIONAL SUCCESSION, UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF PEOPLE POWER, UNDER THE PRINCIPLE OF THE DUTY OF THE ARMED FORCES TO BE THE GUARDIAN AND PROTECTOR OF THE PEOPLE YOUR ACT TO PROTECT THE REPUBLIC AND THE PRESIDENCY NOT ONLY LAST JANUARY 19 BUT ALSO LAST MAY 1st, THE BRAVERY OF OUR SOLDIERS IN BASILAN AND SULU, AND YOUR UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT IN THE FACE OF ANOTHER RECENT ROUND OF COUP RUMORS -- THESE ARE EXPRESSIONS OF THE PROFESSIONALISM AND EXCELLENCE THAT CHARACTERIZE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COMMAND.

THE PM TRIPLE 'A' HAS PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN UNITING OUR SOLDIERS AND KEEPING THEM BEYOND THE PALE OF PARTISANSHIP DESPITE THE TEMPTING OFFERS OF POLITICAL ADVENTURERS. THIS TEMPERING ROLE PLAYED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN INDISPENSABLE TO OUR NATIONAL STABILITY AND GROWTH.

THE FILIPINO SOLDIER IS THE COMPLEAT PROFESSIONAL -- HARDWORKING, EASILY TRAINABLE, RESOLUTE AND DUTY-BOUND. THIS IS A TRIBUTE TO THE PMA, AND THAT IS WHY I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO BE WITH YOU SO MANY TIMES WHEN I WAS SENATOR, VP AND NOW PRESIDENT.

AT TUWING NAGKIKITA TAYO SA PMA -- WHETHER DITO, SA ALUMNI O DOON SA KASALUKUYANG PMA -- MERON AKONG PARATING SOUVENIR, YUNG MGA SUNDALO, YUNG MGA TOY SOLDIERS. SA DALAS NA AKO'Y NAKIKIPAG-UGNAY SA PM TRIPLE 'A' AT SAKA SA PMA MISMO, YUNG AKING COLLECTION NG TOY SOLDIERS ISANG PLATOON NA. (LAUGHTER) KAYA NAKAKAPAG-LECTURE AKO DOON SA MGA NAGTATANONG SA 'BALIKATAN' KUNG ANO ANG PLATOON, ANO ANG SQUAD, ANO ANG COMPANY, ANO ANG BATTALION, ANO ANG BRIGADE, ANO ANG DIVISION, ANO ANG AREA COMMAND. SABI NGA NUNG AKING BAGONG PSG HEAD, SI COLONEL ESPERON, CLASS '74. NAGUGULAT SIYA KUNG AKO MAG-LECTURE PARANG SUNDALO. SABI KO, I MUST HAVE BEEN A SOLDIER IN MY EARLIER LIFE. KAYA LANG I DON'T BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION. ANYWAY, WHETHER I WAS A SOLDIER IN MY EARLIER LIFE OR NOT -- 'CAUSE THERE'S NO EARLIER LIFE, ANYWAY -- I AM A SOLDIER TODAY BECAUSE I AM THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.

AND BEING YOUR FELLOW SOLDIER, AND BEING YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CERTAINLY, I HAVE HAD MANY MOMENTS TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE YOU AS AN INSTITUTION, AS INDIVIDUALS, AND I CAN TRULY SAY THAT YOU INTERNALIZE AND LIVE OUT THE VALUES OF COURAGE, INTEGRITY AND LOYALTY INSTILLED IN THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY. YOUR PATRIOTISM SHINES THROUGH EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE HUNG UP YOUR UNIFORMS. MANY OF YOU HERE ARE PAST THE AGE OF 56 AND STILL YOU ARE THERE, PROFESSIONAL AS EVER IN YOUR SECOND CAREER. TRULY, YOU DESERVE THE ACCOLADE OF OUR PEOPLE.

TODAY, ONCE MORE, THE ARMED FORCES IS IN THE FRONTPAGE IN VIEW OF THE 'BALIKATAN EXERCISES IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES. AND AS PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THIS MATTER. AND WHEN I WAS THINKING OF WHAT I WOULD SAY TODAY TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, I DECIDED TO ORGANIZE THE RECORD INTO TEN IMPORTANT POLICY GUIDELINES:

FIRST, 'BALIKATAN' IS PURELY AN EXERCISE IN JOINT MILITARY TRAINING INVOLVING PROFESSIONAL TROOPS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE UNITED STATES. IT IS PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE AFP FORCES. U.S. FORCES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS.

SECOND POLICY, 'BALIKATAN' IS ALSO A FACET OF THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM. IT IS STRATEGICALLY PROPELLED THIS YEAR BY THE PERTINENT U.N. RESOLUTIONS CALLING ON ALL MEMBER STATES TO COOPERATE IN AND CONTRIBUTE RESOURCES TO THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST A COMMON THREAT. WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT IN OUR ADHERENCE TO THESE RESOLUTIONS, WHICH ARE INDISPENSABLE TO OUR OWN NATIONAL SURVIVAL AND STABILITY.

THIRD, 'BALIKATAN' IS SANCTIONED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND THE PHILIPPINE-U.S. VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT.

FOURTH, 'BALIKATAN' IS BACKED UP BY A CONSENSUS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDES THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. THIS IS AN EXERCISE IN STRENGTHENING BOTH OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE POLITICAL WILL BEHIND IT.

FIFTH, THE COMMAND STRUCTURE OF 'BALIKATAN' CONSISTS OF SEPARATE U.S. AND PHILIPPINE UNITS INTERFACED WITH THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES. AT NO POINT IN TIME WILL U.S. FORCES BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHIN PHILIPPINE TERRITORY. AT ANY TIME THE U.S. FORCES WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE COMMAND OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMANDER.

SIXTH, THE AFP CHIEF OF STAFF HAS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER ALL FORCES UNDER 'BALIKATAN.' THIS IS UNDERSTOOD AT THE POLITICAL AND OPERATIONAL LEVELS OF BOTH SIDES. IN THIS EXERCISE, I HAVE THE FIRM ASSURANCE OF PRESIDENT BUSH HIMSELF THAT THE AMERICAN TROOPS WILL TAKE THE CUE FROM THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT.

PRESIDENT BUSH CALLED ME UP ABOUT FOUR NIGHTS AGO, AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT THESE MATTERS. AND HE SAID THAT HE WILL BE PUTTING SOME OF THESE THINGS VERY CLEARLY IN WRITING IN A LETTER TO BE FORTHCOMING.

SEVENTH, THE 'BALIKATAN' IS TIME-BOUND. IT WILL LAST FOR 6 MONTHS INVOLVING SOME 600 U.S. TROOPS. THE BULK OF THE U.S. TROOPS WILL CONSIST MAINLY OF SUPPORT SERVICE PERSONNEL -- 250 OF THE TROOPS WILL BE DEPLOYED IN MACTAN, CEBU TO TRAIN OUR PERSONNEL IN MAINTENANCE.

EIGHTH, 160 U.S. TRAINORS WILL BE DEPLOYED IN BASILAN TO OBSERVE OUR SOLDIERS. TWO AMERICAN TRAINORS OF THESE 160 WILL ACCOMPANY EACH AFP COMPANY. THE AMERICANS WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS. AND THE TERMS OF REFERENCE WILL INCLUDE AN ENJOINMENT THAT THEY STAY AT THE TACTICAL HEADQUARTERS WHEN THEY GO OUT WITH THEIR TROOPS IN THE OPERATIONS OF OUR TROOPS.

NINTH, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED IN THE COURSE OF THE EXERCISE, IF EVER -- AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE NONE -- WILL BE SEVERELY SANCTIONED. FOR THIS PURPOSE, TO ENSURE THIS, I AM REACTIVATING THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS HEADED BY THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE. AND I HAVE ASKED THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, TO ORGANIZE A WESTERN MINDANAO COMMITTEE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION AND TO REPORT ANY VIOLATIONS FOR PROPER ACTION BY THE AUTHORITIES. CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES ARE TO BE PROTECTED AND GIVEN UTMOST CONSIDERATION.

TENTH, IMPACT SOCIOECONOMIC PROJECTS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE SECOND-HALF OF THE SIX-MONTH CYCLE. BECAUSE, AS IT IS IN CENTRAL LUZON, 'BALIKATAN' HAS A MILITARY ASPECT AND A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASPECT.

I WOULD LIKE THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND THE AFP CHIEF OF STAFF -- WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT WHO IS ON AN UNOFFICIAL MISSION -- TO INTEGRATE THESE GUIDELINES IN THE DETAILED TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE EXERCISE AND DISSEMINATE THEM THROUGHOUT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

THE MORE OBSERVANT OF OUR READERS WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT 'EXERCISE BALIKATAN' HAS LIFTED THE STOCK MARKET TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN ONE YEAR. 'BALIKATAN' HAS NOTCHED UP THE PROSPECTS OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. AND WITH SECURITY COMES CONFIDENCE, INVESTMENT AND A GOOD BUSINESS CLIMATE.

IN CELEBRATION OF THIS YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY, I SALUTE YOU ONCE AGAIN MY FELLOW CAVALIERS, FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SECURITY THAT WE ARE ENJOYING TODAY FOR THE CONFIDENCE THAT HAS BEEN RESTORED TODAY.

I THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK, AND FOR THE COURAGEOUS LIVES YOU HAVE LIVED VERY WELL.

AND ONCE MORE ON THIS DAY, LET ME DECLARE MY UNREMITTING FAITH IN THE FILIPINO SOLDIER, WHO IS PART OF THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER, THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PM TRIPLE 'A'.

LET ME ADD, THAT IN MY GESTURE OF RESPECT AND ADMIRATION FOR THE GREAT FILIPINO SOLDIER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPRESSED MY HOPE OF RAISING THE SALARIES OF OUR SOLDIERS TO THE SAME LEVEL AS OUR TEACHERS. AND I AM GLAD TO NOTE THAT WITH THE EXCELLENT TESTIMONY OF SECRETARY REYES AND THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES, THE BILL INCREASING THE PAY OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES TO ALIGN THIS PAY WITH THE PAY OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS HAS PASSED THE COMMITTEE LEVEL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AND I HOPE YOU WILL ALL -- ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT, NO LONGER IN ACTIVE SERVICE -- WILL CAMPAIGN WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AND HELP ME PERSUADE CONGRESS TO PASS THIS BILL INTO LAW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IPAGPATULOY NATIN ITONG NAPAKAHALAGANG SAMAHAN TUNGO SA MAKABULUHANG PAGBABAGO NG HUKBONG SANDATAHAN AT NG BUONG BANSA.

AT ITONG ARAW NA ITO, SA ARAW NG ATING GENERAL ASSEMBLY NG PM TRIPLE 'A' MULI, OF THE COUNTLESS TIMES I HAVE TOLD YOU, I TELL YOU ONCE AGAIN, MABUHAY KAYO MGA TUNAY NA KAAKIBAT PARA SA KAUNLARAN!

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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