PGMA's Speech during the AFP Change of Command Ceremony

PGMA's Speech during the AFP Change of Command Ceremony

GHQ Grandstrand, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City (08 April 2003)

THANK YOU, SECRETARY REYES.

TROOP COMMANDER GENERAL ILAGAN, GIVE THE TROOPS 'TIKAS PAHINGA.'

GENERAL NARCISO ABAYA. NO LONGER LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUT GENERAL NARCISO ABAYA; GENERAL DIONISIO SANTIAGO; EXCELLENCIES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS; MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ESPECIALLY GENERAL ABAYA'S FIRST COUSIN, CONGRESSMAN PLARIDEL ABAYA; SECRETARY ROMULO AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CABINET; VICE CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL RODOLFO GARCIA; THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ERNESTO CAROLINA; THE MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS OF THE ARMED FORCES; THE OFFICERS MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

ON JANUARY 19, 2001, THE COUNTRY SAW THE ENTIRE MILITARY TOP BRASS AT THE CENTER STAGE OF EDSA. I SALUTE ALL THESE MEN IN THE MILITARY TOP BRASS OF THAT MOMENT FOR THEIR ROLE IN PROTECTING THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. FURTHER, FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE FLAG UNDER MY COMMAND. LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THOSE IN EDSA WHO WERE STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM. THERE WAS THE CHIEF-OF-STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, GENERAL ANGELO REYES, WHO IS NOW THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE; WE WERE JOINED BY THE VICE-CHIEF-OF-STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, GENERAL JOSE CALIMLIM, WHO IS NOW MY ADVISER FOR COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE; IN THAT CENTER STAGE WAS THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY, DIOMEDIO VILLANUEVA, WHO SUCCEEDED ANGELO REYES AS CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES AND SERVED ME IN THAT POSITION FOR MORE THAN A YEAR; THERE WAS THE HEAD OF THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE, GENERAL BENJAMIN DEFENSOR, WHO SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME ONE OF THE FEW CHIEFS OF STAFF NOT COMING FROM THE ARMY; THERE WAS THE HEAD OF THE NAVY, WHO IS NOW THE AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM, GUILLERMO WONG; AND THERE WAS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES, JAIME DELOS SANTOS, WHOM I SELECTED TO SUCCEED GENERAL VILLANUEVA AS THE HEAD OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY. THESE WERE THE MEN AT THE CENTER STAGE OF EDSA.

BUT, NOT IN THE CENTER STAGE, BECAUSE HE WAS PLAYING A ROLE ON THE GROUND, PLAYING A ROLE NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN THOSE ON CENTER STAGE WAS THE BRIGADIER GENERAL DIONISIO SANTIAGO. HE WAS AT THE JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND ON THAT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TROOPS FROM THE GROUND WERE UNITED BEHIND THE TOP BRASS OF THE MILITARY. IN HIS VALEDICTORY, GENERAL SANTIAGO SAID THAT HE BELIEVES HIS RISE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ARMED FORCES WAS A COMBINATION OF DESTINY, LUCK AND TIMING. I CAN ATTEST TO THE THIRD ONE, ABOUT TIMING, BECAUSE DIONISIO SANTIAGO WAS IN FACT THE EARLIEST OF THE COMMANDERS TO PUT HIS CAREER ON THE LINE AND CAST HIS LOT WITH THE PEOPLE. HE WAS THEN COMMANDER OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. TODAY, HE GRADUATES FROM THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES. BUT I REMEMBER HIM VERY FONDLY AS I SALUTE HIM TODAY, I REMEMBER HIM VERY FONDLY AS THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDER, AND BECAUSE HE HEADED THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND, I LIKE TO CALL DIONNET SANTIAGO MY CHUCK NORRIS. PARTICULARLY WHEN HIS SUPERIORS, KNOWING HOW MUCH I TRUSTED HIM, ASSIGNED HIM TO HEAD TASK FORCE LIBRA" WHICH THEY CREATED TO PROTECT ME FROM THE MAY 1 FORCES.

DIONNET SANTIAGO WAS CLOSE TO ME AS BRIGADIER GENERAL AND I WAS PRIVY TO HIS DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. HE DREAMT OF BECOMING THE HEAD OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY AND, AS HE SAID, PART OF HIS ACCESSION TO LEADERSHIP WAS DESTINY AND LUCK. I CAN ATTEST TO THAT LUCK. HE WANTED TO BE HEAD OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY, I MADE HIM HEAD OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY. BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW, I ALSO HAD IN STORE FOR HIM TO BECOME THE HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.

AS CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DIONNET DREW UP WITH THE HELP OF GENERAL ABAYA 14 OPERATIONAL MANUALS AND PRIMERS IN RESPONSE TO MY DIRECTIVE TO MODERNIZE PHILIPPINE DOCTRINE. HE NEUTRALIZED SEVERAL RANKING ABU SAYYAF MEMBERS. AS HE SAID, HE CUT THEIR SIZE TO ONE-HALF, BETWEEN THE TIME HE CAME IN AND THE TIME HE LEFT FIVE MONTHS LATER.

HE DEALT THEREFORE A CRIPPLING BLOW TO THAT NOTORIOUS TERRORIST GROUP. HE SLOWED DOWN THE EXPANSION AND RECRUITMENT OF THE NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY, EVEN AS HE STEPPED UP THE SOLDIERS' INVOLVEMENT IN BUILDING BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, HELPING REHABILITATE VICTIMS OF CONFLICT AND NATURAL DISASTERS, AND INTENSIFYING THE ARMED FORCES' PARTICIPATION IN OUR KALAHI PROGRAM, THEREBY WINNING MORE HEARTS AND MINDS IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND POVERTY.

IN HIS SPEECH, HE TALKED ABOUT THE BATTLE OF BULIOK AND, INDEED, GENERAL SANTIAGO AS CHIEF OF STAFF GAVE MY ADMINISTRATION THE MOST EXPANSIVE VICTORY IN THE CAMPAIGNS THAT COVERED COLUMBIO, PRESIDENT ROXAS AND SULTAN KUDARAT AND BULIOK, THAT WAS WHEN WE HAD THE GREATEST VICTORY IN OUR ADMINISTRATION. AND FOR THAT GENERAL SANTIAGO, I SALUTE YOU, ONCE MORE. I SALUTE YOU ESPECIALLY FOR SERVING OUR NATION WITH A GREAT HEART.

AND NOW, WE WELCOME DIONNET'S WORTHY SUCCESSOR, GENERAL NARCISO ABAYA. TO CALL NARCING A WORTHY SUCCESSOR IS REALLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT. FROM THE EARLY MONTHS OF MY TERM AS PRESIDENT, I COULD ALREADY SEE THAT MANY OF HIS SENIORS RECOGNIZED HIS POTENTIAL AS CHIEF OF STAFF. I COULD ALREADY SEE THAT MANY OF THE YOUNG OFFICERS LOOKED UP TO GENERAL ABAYA AS THEIR EVENTUAL LEADER. SEEING HIS RECORD, HEARING ABOUT HIS REPUTATION, I WAS NOT SURPRISED THAT HIS SENIORS AND HIS JUNIORS HELD HIM IN SUCH HIGH ESTEEM. SO MUCH SO THAT WHEN IT CAME OUT THAT HE WAS MY CHOICE AS CHIEF OF STAFF, MANY ASKED ME, "HOW DID I CHOOSE HIM AS CHIEF OF STAFF?" I HAPPILY ANSWERED, "LET ME COUNT THE WAYS" -- HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN; THE HIGHEST RANKING FILIPINO CADET OFFICER IN THE HISTORY OF WEST POINT; NUMBER ONE TOPNOTCHER IN THE ENGINEERING BOARD EXAMS; A MAGNIFICENT BATTLE RECORD AS FIELD COMMANDER; AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, A SPOTLESS REPUTATION FOR INTEGRITY. NO WONDER THEN, GENERAL ABAYA, THAT MUCH IS EXPECTED OF YOU. YOU SAID THAT GREGORIO DEL PILAR FELT IT WAS HIS GLORIOUS MOMENT BUT THAT HE KNEW THE DIFFICULT TASK AHEAD. THIS IS YOUR GLORIOUS MOMENT AND YOU HAVE DIFFICULT TASKS AHEAD AND THERE ARE GREAT EXPECTATIONS OF YOU. BECAUSE GOING BY THE OBJECTIVE DOCUMENTS IN YOUR RECORD AND THE SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENT OF BOTH YOUR SENIORS AND YOUR YOUNG OFFICERS, THEY EXPECT YOU TO BE THE ONE OF THE GREATEST CHIEFS OF STAFF IN THE HISTORY OF OUR ARMED FORCES. AND IF YOU FULFILL THAT POTENTIAL AND THAT EXPECTATION, IT WOULD BE MY PRIDE TO HAVE BEEN THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TO GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY IN SERVING OUR PEOPLE AT THE APEC OF THE ARMED FORCES.

YOU COME INTO THE TOP LEADERSHIP OF THE ARMED FORCES AT A TIME OF GREAT CHALLENGE IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD WHERE ONLY THE BEST WILL DO.

YOU COME TO YOUR POST AT A TIME OF A DEFINING U.S.-IRAQ WAR. IT'S TIME TO THINK OF HOW BEST TO HELP THE IRAQI PEOPLE RECOVER FROM THE RAVAGES OF WAR, AND TO RESTORE THEIR ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. WE CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT RESISTANCE TO THE COALITION CAN BE IMMEDIATELY CONVERTED INTO COOPERATION, THAT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CAN NOW BE PLACED ON THE TOP DECK OF PRIORITIES, AND THAT RECONSTRUCTION CAN COMMENCE, BOTH IN THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PLANE. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN, WITH THEIR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY RESTORED, THE IRAQI PEOPLE WILL REGAIN THEIR TIME-HONORED PRESTIGE AND DEMOCRATIC POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN THE WORLD.

NARCISO ABAYA COMES TO HIS POST ALSO IN THE TIME OF SARS AS A NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN. OUR ENTIRE STRATEGY AND APPROACH TO THE SARS ISSUE RUNS PARALLEL TO OUR INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH TO ALL ECONOMIC ISSUES: THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE COMES FIRST. SUBSTANCE, NOT FORM. THE FULL FORCE OF ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE ARMED FORCES, MUST BE CONSOLIDATED. I ASK THE SOLDIERS, AND MORE THAN THAT, THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR CONTINUED COOPERATION, SUPPORT AND SOBRIETY. TOGETHER IN HEART AND MIND, WE WILL BEAT THIS MENACE.

GENERAL ABAYA ALSO COMES TO HIS POST IN THE TIME OF TERRORISM IN THE WORLD. AS COMMANDER OF THE SOUTH COMMAND, HE WAS ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE DAVAO BLAST INVESTIGATION.

AND I AM HAPPY TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THAT AT 7:30 A.M. TODAY IN COTABATO CITY, JOINT OPERATIONS BY THE AFP AND PNP ELEMENTS LED TO THE ARREST OF TWO PERSONALITIES INVOLVED IN THE DAVAO CITY BOMBINGS. THEY WERE IDENTIFIED AS: FIRST, TOTO, WHO PLANTED THE BOMB AT THE SASA WHARF INCIDENT. AND HE IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE BOMBING IN THE WAITING SHED OUTSIDE THE DAVAO AIRPORT; THE SECOND IS TUHAMI URONG ALSO INVOLVED IN THE BOMBING OF THE WAITING SHED OUTSIDE THE DAVAO AIRPORT. BOTH OF THEM WERE ARRESTED BY VIRTUE OF THE WARRANT OF ARREST FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOMBING OF THE WAITING SHED OUTSIDE THE DAVAO AIRPORT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AFP AND THE PNP! WHAT A GOOD WELCOME PRESENT FOR OUR NEW AFP CHIEF OF STAFF.

RELIABLE INTELLIGENCE REPORTS INDICATE THAT INDONESIAN NATIONALS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE RECENT SPATE OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. I AM THEREFORE DIRECTING GENERAL ABAYA TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT ON THIS ISSUE.

I AM DIRECTING HIM TO CONSOLIDATE AND TIGHTEN REGIONAL VIGILANCE. THE LINKS WITH AL QAEDA HAVE BEEN GIVEN SINCE THE BEGINNING. INDONESIANS HAVE ALSO BEEN SIGHTED IN TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS IN MINDANAO. WE MUST INFORM THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEIR VIGILANCE WILL BE CLOTHED WITH A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE REALITIES WE'RE FACING AND OUR EARNEST EFFORTS TO WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO MEET THE COMMON THREAT.

GENERAL ABAYA ALSO COMES TO HIS POST AT A TIME OF MILF ATTACKS. THESE ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR POLICY OF ACTIVE DEFENSE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES AGAINST TERRORIST DEPREDATIONS. AND I CONFIRM HIS DECLARATION IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH BY DIRECTING THE TROOPS TO STAND THEIR GROUND. LET NO ONE TEST THEIR DETERMINATION TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE.

BUT EVEN AS OUR TROOPS STAND THEIR GROUND, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT OUR FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS THE TWIN OF OUR FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT APPROACH, OUR APPROACH IS HOLISTIC. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WHILE THERE IS THE RIGHT HAND OF THE ARMED FORCES, THERE IS THE LEFT HAND OF THE FIGHT AGAINST THE ROOT CAUSE OF CONFLICT IN OUR COUNTRY, AND THAT IS NONE OTHER THAN THE SCOURGE OF POVERTY. BUT EVEN IN THIS TWIN BATTLE, ON TOP OF HIS STERLING DOCUMENTARY AND FIELD CREDENTIALS, GENERAL ABAYA HAS YET ANOTHER SECRET WEAPON -- AND THAT IS THE UNDERSECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION, SUSAN ABAYA.

IN THE TANDEM OF GENERAL ABAYA AND UNDERSECRETARY ABAYA, WE'RE ABLE TO LITERALLY WED THE LEFT HAND AND THE RIGHT HAND. I AM CONFIDENT THEY WILL DO WELL. BECAUSE IN A PERFORMANCE LIKE THIS, IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO, I HAVE SEEN GENERAL ABAYA AND SUSAN ABAYA DANCE A GREAT TANGO. AND THEY WILL DANCE THIS ACT EQUALLY AS WELL. AND SO GENERAL ABAYA, IN THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT FACE YOU, THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU GREAT GIFTS AND MUCH IS EXPECTED OF YOU. TO YOU, THEREFORE, CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK!

AND TO GENERAL SANTIAGO, ACCEPT NOT ONLY THE GRATITUDE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE BUT ESPECIALLY MY PERSONAL GRATITUDE FOR A JOB SO WELL AND FAITHFULLY DONE.

THANK YOU.

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