PGMA's Speech during the 105th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army

Gen. Tirso Fajardo Bldg. (HPA Grandstand) Fort Bonifacio, Makati City (22 March 2002)
MAYOR FREDDIE TINGA AND THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

MGA SUNDALO, BINABATI KO KAYONG LAHAT MGA MAGIGITING NA KAWAL NG PHILIPPINE
ARMY SA ATING 105th ANNIVERSARY.

AND I SALUTE OUR AWARDEES ON THIS OCCASION. OUR AWARDEES ARE THIS YEAR'S
MODELS OF THE GREAT FILIPINO SOLDIER. MODELS OF THE BEST TRADITION OF THE
ARMY. YOU AND THE REST OF OUR ARMY DO OUR NATION PROUD FOR YOUR COURAGE,
CONSCIENCE AND PATRIOTISM.

I ALSO SALUTE THE 20 OFFICERS CONFIRMED LAST WEEK BY THE COMMISSION ON
APPOINTMENTS. SIX OF THE GENERALS AND FIVE OF THE COLONELS ARE FROM THE
ARMY. I APPOINTED YOU, I CHOSE YOU TO BE GENERALS AND COLONELS BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IN YOUR QUALITIES OF MILITARY LEADERSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU
ALL!

TODAY IS ALSO THE 105th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENCY. IN THE
TEJEROS CONVENTION WHERE GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO FORMALLY CONSTITUTED THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMY OF THE PHILIPPINES, HE WAS ALSO DECLARED PRESIDENT OF
THE REVOLUTIONARY FORCES AND THE REPUBLIC. AND TODAY AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
I SHARE WITH YOU THE HISTORICAL MEANING AND LEGACY OF THIS MOMENT.

FOURTEEN MONTHS AGO, THE AFP CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO CAME FROM THE ARMY,
BROUGHT WITH HIM THE WHOLE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO DEAL THE
FINAL BLOW AGAINST PLUNDER AND THE LOSS OF MORAL ASCENDANCY OF A PRESIDENCY
THAT COULD NO LONGER GOVERN.

THEN AS NOW, THE FORTUNES OF THE PRESIDENCY AND THE ARMY ARE CLOSELY
INTERLINKED. IT IS A BOND THAT IS FORGED IN A COMMON VISION -- THE VISION
OF A STRONG DEMOCRATIC NATION. IT IS A GOOD MESSAGE FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT
YOU HAVE FOR YOUR ANNIVERSARY THEME, AND I QUOTE "AT YOUR SERVICE FOR
FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY ACROSS THE LAND." END QUOTE.

THIS QUOTE DECLARES THE ARMY'S UNDYING RECOGNITION OF THE PEOPLE AS THE
MASTERS OF THE COMMAND. IT REAFFIRMS THE AFP's PRIMARY MISSION TO PRESERVE
FREEDOM, UPHOLD DEMOCRACY AND PROTECT OUR NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY AND
INTEGRITY. INDEED IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY WE HAVE SEEN THAT FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY ENABLE DEVELOPMENT, WHILE AUTHORITARIANISM AND DICTATORSHIP
SABOTAGE DEVELOPMENT AND THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY.

TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WE MUST HAVE SECURITY, BOTH INTERNAL AND
EXTERNAL, FOR WHICH THE ARMY PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE. YOU BEAR THE BRUNT IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST INSURGENCY, REBELLION AND TERRORISM. IN THIS, YOU HAVE
DISPLAYED THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF VALOR AND GALLANTRY IN DEFENSE OF OUR
TERRITORY AND SOVEREIGNTY, CONSTITUTION AND FLAG. YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT THE
PHILIPPINES IS THE HOME OF THE GREAT FILIPINO SOLDIER.

THE 227 OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL WOUNDED OR KILLED IN ACTION AGAINST
THE ABU SAYAFF FROM JANUARY 2001 UP TO THIS DAY ARE A PAINFUL TESTIMONY TO
YOUR GREATNESS AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.

BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO SACRIFICE MORE OF OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, AND YET
THE WAR MUST BE FOUGHT. THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR PEOPLE AND TO THE
INTERNATIONAL WORLD. WE WILL PUT AN END TO THESE TERRORISTS SOON WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF OUR ALLIES.

BALIKATAN IS ADDRESSING PART OF THE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO MATCH
YOUR VALOR AND STAMINA. COURAGE, WE NEED NOT LEARN FROM OTHERS, YOU HAVE A
SURFEIT OF THAT. BUT TACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL TRAINING ARE NEEDED TO
TRANSFORM COURAGE INTO SURE VICTORY.

AT THIS JUNCTURE, I WOULD TAKE UP EXERCISE BALIKATAN 2-1. IN THE
BEGINNING, THERE WERE UNDERSTANDABLY QUESTIONS AND APPREHENSIONS REGARDING
THE PARTICIPATION OF AMERICANS IN EXERCISE BALIKATAN. EVEN AT THAT TIME
WHERE THE ISSUE OF THE AMERICAN PARTICIPATION WAS BEING DEBATED, I SAW AND
WAS CONVINCED OF THE NEED FOR AMERICAN ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST
THE TERRORIST IN BASILAN THUS, I DECIDED WITHOUT MUCH HESITATION.

OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE ABU SAYYAF IN BASILAN IS BEGINNING TO BEAR FRUIT. OUR TROOPS ARE HOT ON THE HEELS OF TERRORISTS AIDED BY SOPHISTICATED
INTELLIGENCE GATHERING. EQUALLY ENCOURAGING IS THE WARM ACCEPTANCE BY THE
PEACE LOVING PEOPLES OF BASILAN AND ZAMBOANGA OF THE AMERICAN PRESENCE.
THEY, WHO ARE THE ONES DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE SCOURGE OF TERRORISM LOOK
FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE TO THE DAY WHEN THIS SCOURGE IS FINALLLY STAMPED
OUT. AND WE SHALL WIN WITH SUPERIOR MORAL AND NOW SUPERIOR PHYSICAL
RESOURCES.

WE SHALL UPHOLD BEFORE THE WORLD THE FINEST TRADITION OF SOLDIERY THAT
LIVES IN THE ARMY AND THE OTHER MAJOR SERVICES. WE HAVE TO PUSH FORWARD
WITH GREATER VIGOR AND FORCE UNTIL TERRORISM IS DESTROYED AND CAN NO
LONGER RISE FROM THE ASHES.

AND NOW THAT THE BALIKATAN 2-1 IS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF ITS COURSE AS IN
PREVIOUS BALIKATANS UNDER THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT, YOUR SUPERIORS
TOGETHER WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ARE
BRAINSTORMING ON THE CURRICULUM OF THE NEXT BALIKATANS.

BECAUSE THE CURRICULUM OF EVERY BALIKATAN IS USUALLY PLANNED AND AGREED ON
A YEAR IN ADVANCE, THE ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED BALIKATAN EXCERCISES FOR 2002
WERE PLANNED AND AGREED ON LONG BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11. AND THEREFORE, TO MY
MIND THAT ORIGINAL CURRICULUM, THAT ORIGINAL CONTENT BECAME LESS RELEVANT
AFTER SEPTEMBER 11. AND I INSTRUCTED THAT THE CONTENT BE MODIFIED TO
EMPHASIZE THE SKILLS NEEDED IN THE INTERNATIONAL WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, THE
RESULT WAS BALIKATAN 2-1.

WE MUST CONTINUE RE-EXAMINING THE CONTENT OF FUTURE BALIKATANS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY CONFORM MORE AND MORE TO THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND
INCREASINGLY TO THE FIGHT AGAINST THE TWIN OF TERRORISM, THE FIGHT AGAINST
POVERTY.

NOW, I'M BEGINNING TO RECEIVE FEELERS FROM THE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY OF BASILAN
REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF ENHANCING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE IN
THE U.S. PARTICIPATION IN EXERCISE BALIKATAN. THIS IS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM
RECOVER SOON FROM THE DESTRUCTION AND STAGNATION WHICH TERRORISM HAS
WROUGHT ON THEM FOR SO LONG.

I AM KEEPING AN OPEN MIND ON THE MATTER. OFFHAND, I SEE NO SERIOUS
OBJECTION AGAINST THE PROPOSITION FOR EXPANDING THE ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT FOR AFTER ALL OUR EFFORT AT RESTORING PEACE IN BASILAN IS NOT
THE END. IT IS IN FACT JUST THE BEGINNING OF A MORE ARDUOUS AND SUSTAINED
EFFORT OF BRINGING DEVELOPMENT TO THE PROVINCE, OF REDUCING POVERTY WHICH
AS I HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID IS THE TWIN OF TERRORISM.

I AWAIT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MY ADVISERS BUT IN THE MEANTIME ON A MATTER
OF STRATEGIC POLICY LET ME SAY THAT I WELCOME THE THOUGHT THE NEXT
MODIFICATION OF THE BALIKATAN CURRICULUM SHOULD EMPHASIZE CIVIC ACTION.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO STRENGHTEN THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
OF THE COMMUNITY CAUGHT IN THE VORTEX OF COMBAT OPERATIONS.

IN THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, WE CANNOT BE HALF-HEARTED OR RELUCTANT TO
MOVE FORWARD, STRATEGIC DECISIVENESS IS IMPORTANT. TO HESITATE NOW COULD
DOOM OUR CHANCES OF PERMANENT SUCCESS. A SHALLOW VICTORY WILL DOOM OUR
NATION TO GREATER INSTABILITY AND DRIVE OUR PEOPLE TO DEEPER POVERTY AND
DESPAIR.

BUT LET ME ASSURE THE ARMY AND THE WHOLE NATION THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY
MORE BALIKATANS THERE WILL BE AFTER MORE THAN A DOZEN BALIKATANS THERE HAD
BEEN UNDER THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT, AS LONG AS I AM PRESIDENT, NOT
ONLY THE CONSTITUTION BUT ALSO THE SELF RESPECT OF THE FILIPINO SOLDIER
WILL ALWAYS SERVE AS THE PARAMETERS AND GUIDELINES OF BALIKATAN.

THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE THE ENEMY EXCEPT IN A CLEAR-CUT
SCENARIO OF EXERCISING THE HUMAN RIGHT OF SELF-DEFENSE. THE AMERICAN
SOLDIERS WILL TRAIN AND WILL BE TRAINED UNDER OUR MUTUAL TRAINING TEMPLATE
THROUGH OUR CHAIN OF COMMAND. OUR BATTLES HAVE NOT BEEN EXCLUSIVELY
AGAINST ARMED AGRESSORS. YOU, THE GREAT FILIPINO SOLDIERS HAVE ALSO FOUGHT
IGNORANCE AND POVERTY. AS MENTIONED BY GENERAL DE LOS REYES, YOU HAVE
BUILT MANY USEFUL THINGS FOR DEVELOPMENT. YOU HAVE BUILT DAMS AND
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS IN CONFLICT-RIDDEN LOCALITIES. FOR INSTANCE, IN
THE LANAO DEL SUR-NORTH COTABATO AREA ALONE YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTED OR
REHABILITATED MORE THAN AHUNDRED SCHOOL BUILDINGS DURING MY ADMINISTRATION. I CONGRATULATE THE
ENGINEERING BRIGADES FOR BUILDING THESE SCHOOLS IN WHICH SOLDIERS SOMETIMES
EVEN SERVE AS TEMPORARY TEACHERS.

THERE ARE 1,600 BARANGAYS THAT STILL HAVE NO SCHOOLS SERVING THEM AND I
WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT MY INSTRUCTION THAT THE ENGINEERING BRIGADES SHOULD
PARTICIPATE IN THE BUILDING OF THESE SCHOOLS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY
MY INSTRUCTION THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY EXTRA SALARY TO THOSE WHO
ARE BUILDING THESE SCHOOLS, THE PROJECT COSTS OF THESE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE NO
MORE THAN 200,000 PESOS PER CLASSROOM IN THESE BARANGAYS.

IN STRENGTHENING OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS PEACE REMAINS OUR PREFERRED
OPTION. I HAVE SUSPENDED THE PEACE PANELS BUT WE HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON
NEGOTIATIONS. THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MILF
STILL HOLDS. BACKCHANNELS ARE BEING USED TO MOVE THE MILF PEACE PROCESS
FASTER. BACKCHANNELS ARE ALSO OPEN TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE
PHILIPPINES BASED ON SINCERITY AND GENUINE NATIONAL INTEREST. I AM
PURSUING THE MODE OF BACKCHANNELING TO TRY TO ACHIEVE FINAL AGREEMENT AT
THE SOONEST POSSIBLE TIME.

ONLY YESTERDAY, ALMOST 500 MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNIST MOVEMENT, THE RAM
AND THE MNLF WERE FORMALLY GRANTED AMNESTY. THIS HAS BROUGHT THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF AMNESTY GRANTEES OF VARIOUS PERSUASIONS TO 16,000 SINCE 1986. AT
THIS POINT, ABOUT 2,600 MORE HAVE MANIFESTED AN INTEREST IN AVAILING OF
OUR AMNESTY PROGRAM.

BUT LET NOT THE OLIVE BRANCH WE HOLD BEFORE THE ENEMY BE REBUFFED WITH
GUNFIRE. WAGING PEACE MUST NOT BE PERCEIVED AS COWARDICE. THE ARMY AND ALL
THE AFP ARE THERE TO GUARANTEE THE PEACE WITH SACRIFICE AND VALOR. THIS IS
OUR COMMITMENT -- TO STAND FOR PEACE WITHOUT FLINCHING, WITHOUT LETTING
DOWN OUR GUARD.

WHEN PEACE IS GAINED, WE SECURE IT. WE WILL NOT LET THE SACRIFICES OF THE
AFP GO TO NAUGHT. DEVELOPMENT SHALL SUCCEED CONFLICT. IN MINDANAO, THE
RE-ENVIGORATED ARMM HAS PREPARED AN INTEGRATED AND REALISTIC DEVELOPMENT
PLAN THAT WILL FAST-TRACK THE MARCH OF REGIONAL PROGRESS IN MUSLIM
MINDANAO. LET US ALL SUPPORT IT.

BASILAN HAS ITS OWN ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO REDUCE POVERTY AND
DETER THE SPREAD OF TERRORISM. BALIKATAN PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS CAMPAIGN OF
PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT WHICH SHALL BE PURSUED TO ITS LOGICAL END. THOSE
WHO FIGHT FOR PEACE AND PROGRESS SHOULD THEMSELVES SAVOR THE FRUITS OF WHAT
THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR.

A YEAR AGO, ON ARMY DAY, I INCREASED THE GRATUITIES OF SOLDIERS WOUNDED OR
KILLED IN ACTION. I ALSO SIGNED A LAW EXEMPTING YOUR ALLOWANCES FROM
TAXES. NOW, WE MUST FIND A WAY TO FACILITATE PENSION PAYMENTS. BUT THE
INCREASE OF YOUR BASIC PAY IS OF GREATEST CONCERN TO ME. HEROES MUST HAVE
DECENT SALARIES, THUS, WE ARE WORKING HARD FOR LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE
PAY OF AFP PERSONNEL.

I HAVE ALSO ASKED THE SECRETARY OF THE BUDGET TO INFUSE THE RSBS WITH A
200-MILLION PESO ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION TO SERVE AS ADDITIONAL SEED MONEY
FOR OUR SOLDIERS' PENSIONS. SO THAT THE DAY WILL COME WHEN INCREASINGLY THE
SOLDIERS' PENSION CAN COME FROM EARNINGS OF THE PENSION FUNDS. AND WHEN
THIS DAY COMES THE THREE BILLION PESOS THAT EVERY YEAR WE ALLOCATE FROM THE
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR PENSIONS CAN BE FREED AND CAN THUS BE USED
TO FINANCE THE UPGRADING OF OUR SOLDIERS' SALARIES.

HOUSING IS ANOTHERY CONCERN. LESS THAN 3,000 OFFICERS, ENLISTED MEN AND
BENEFICIARIES OF SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN
OFF-BASE HOUSING PROJECTS. ANOTHER 1,000 OR SO HAVE AVAILED OF PAG-IBIG
BENEFITS. ABOUT 2,000 UNITS SERVED AS ON-BASE HOMES.

THESE NUMBERS ARE FAR TOO LOW FOR THE 13,500 ARMY PERSONNEL APPLYING FOR
OFF-BASE HOUSING AND THE MORE THAN 3,000 WAITING TO BE HOUSED ON-BASE.

HUDCC CHAIRMAN MIKE DEFENSOR HAS PROVIDED THE CABINET WITH A LIST OF PUBLIC
HOUSING PROJECTS FROM THE PAST THAT HAD BECOME WHITE ELEPHANTS BECAUSE TO
BUILD THEM WAS NOT COMMENSURATE TO... TO THE COST TO BUILD THEM WAS NOT
COMMENSURATE TO WHAT THE LOWLY FILIPINO WORKER COULD AFFORD. WE ARE
REDOING THE INSTALLMENT SCHEME TO ALLOW LOW INCOME WORKERS TO PAY FOR THEM AND AT THE SAME TIME COMPLY WITH COA REQUIREMENTS FOR FLOOR
PRICES.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DEFENSE SECRETARY ANGELO REYES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
SOLDIERS GET FIRST CRACK AT THESE HOUSING UNITS ALREADY AVAILABLE EVEN AS
WE SPEAK. I WOULD ALSO LIKE HIM TO OVERSEE THE COMPLETE STAFF WORK FOR
PROCLAIMING ELEVEN IDENTIFIED PORTIONS OF MILITARY RESERVATION AS SOLDIERS'
HOUSING SITES.

I AM ALSO DIRECTING THE AFP HOUSING BOARD'S ACTIONS ON APPLICATIONS FOR THE
AFPOVAI IN FORT BONIFACIO. IT WAS MY LATE FATHER, PRESIDENT DIOSDADO
MACAPAGAL, WHO SET ASIDE LAND IN THEN FORT McKINLEY FOR AN AFP OFFICERS'
VILLAGE AND AN ENLISTED MEN'S VILLAGE. AND AS PRESIDENT I WOULD LIKE TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS WORK WILL NOT GO UNCOMPLETED.

AND YOU, DEAR SOLDIERS CARRY ON WITH YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR PEOPLE
FOR FREEDOM, FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR PHILIPPINE PROGRESS.

LAGI NINYONG ISIPIN ANG KAHALAGAHAN NG INYONG MISYON TUNGO SA KAPAYAPAAN NG
ATING BANSA AT SA KAUNLARAN NG ATING MGA KABABAYAN. LAGI NINYONG MAALA-ALA
SANA NA KAILANGAN KAYO NG KAPWA NATING PILIPINO, AT KAILANGAN KAYO NG
PANGULUHAN, KAILANGAN KAYO NG ATING BANSA.

AND SO ON THIS DAY AFTER 105 YEARS OF A GLORIOUS TRADITION, DEAR SOLDIERS
AS YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, MAY I GIVE YOU A MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM ALL THE
FILIPINO PEOPLE. AND FROM THEM TO YOU, MABUHAY ANG SUNDALONG PILIPINO!

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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