PGMA's Speech during the 24th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) "Sambigkis" Class 2003

PGMA's Speech during the 24th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) "Sambigkis" Class 2003

Camp Gen. Mariano N. Castaneda, Silang, Cavite (14 April 2003)

MARAMING SALAMAT, SECRETARY JOEY LINA, ATING MAKATHANG SECRETARY NG INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

FIRST CADET CAPTAIN, TROOP COMMANDERS, GIVE 'TIKAS PAHINGA'.

POLICE DIRECTOR RAMSEY OCAMPO, PRESIDENT, PHILIPPINE PUBLIC SAFETY COLLEGE; POLICE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT REYNALDO VARILLA, DIRECTOR, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE ACADEMY; PNP DIRECTOR GENERAL HERMOGENES EBDANE; POLICE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT JOSE ANTONIO SALVACION, COMMANDANT OF CADETS; GENERAL SENOT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT; CONGRESSMAN ABAYA, FIRST DISTRICT OF CAVITE; MAYOR OF SILANG, MAYOR MADLANGSACAY; MAYOR OF TAGAYGAY CITY FRANCIS TOLENTINO; PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ORLANDO MACASPAC; POLICE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT PEDRO BULAONG, PRESIDENT OF THE PNPA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION; NPA, AY... PNA, AY... PNPA 'SAMBIGKIS' CLASS 2003 -- ALAM N'YO NA KUNG SINO ANG LALABANAN NINYO; HONORED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ISANG MASAYANG PAGBATI SA LAHAT NG NAGTATAPOS NGAYON, LALO NA SA MGA NAGKAMIT NG NATATANGING KARANGALAN. MASAYA AKO NA MARAMING MGA TAGA-MINDANAO NA KASAMA SA NAGKAMIT NG KARANGALAN SAPAGKA'T MAIBABALIK NILA SA MINDANAO ANG KANILANG NATUTUNAN AT MAKAKATULONG SILA SA PAGSUGPO SA KAGULUHAN DOON. HINDI NPA ANG LALABANAN, DOON SA MINDANAO KAILANGAN LABANAN ANG KARAHASAN.

LAST YEAR, WHEN I ADDRESSED THE PNPA GRADUATION I SAID THAT 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.

THESE ARE STILL THE CONTINUING CHALLENGES OF OUR POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.

AS PART OF OUR WORK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND OUR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT, NEXT WEEK, WE SHALL BEGIN SENDING A HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING CONTINGENT TO IRAQ. MANY OF ITS MEMBERS WILL COME FROM THE PNP.

THE END OF THE WAR IN IRAQ WILL COME AT A GREAT RELIEF. WE MOURNED THE LOSS OF LIVES AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. THOSE OF US WHO SUPPORTED THE CAUSE HAVE AN EVEN GREATER STAKE IN ENSURING THAT THE LOSSES AND SACRIFICES WERE NOT IN VAIN. NOW, THAT THE IRAQI PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM THE YOKE OF TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION, THE WORLD MUST COME TOGETHER AND HELP THEM ENJOY THE FRUITS OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.

AS A MEMBER OF THE UUNITED NATIONS, THE PHILIPPINES HAS ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO AND PARTICIPATED IN THE VARIOUS INITIATIVES OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL AIMED AT PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ AS STIPULATED IN U.N. SECURITYCOUNCIL RESOLUTIONS IN 1990, 1995, 1999, 2003 AND OTHER RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS.

THE PHILIPPINES HAS CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE UNITED NATIONS INITIATIVES FOR IRAQ AS EVIDENCED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF ELEMENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR IRAQ OR U.N.G.C.I. FOR SERVICE AS A HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROTECTION FORCE AS WELL AS PARTICIPATION IN THE "OIL FOR FOOD" PROGRAM FOR IRAQ.

NOW, TODAY, THERE IS ONCE AGAIN A NEED TO COORDINATE THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS AIMED AT CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. THEREFORE, TODAY, I AM CREATING TWO TASK FORCES: THE FIRST IS AN INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE FOR THE COORDINATION OF PHILIPPINE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ.

THE SECOND IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE SECTOR TASK FORCE THAT WILL COORDINATE AND SUPPORT OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE MASSIVE LONG-TERM EFFORT TO REBUILD THE SHATTERED INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONS OF IRAQ AND HELP ITS PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO UNLOCKING THEIR COUNTRY'S GREAT POTENTIAL. TO PROVIDE THE GROUND SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT, I'M APPOINTING JOSE IBAZETA TO SERVE AS OUR AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ.

THE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TASK FORCE SHALL BE COMPRISED OF THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AS CHAIRMAN, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AS CO-CHAIRMAN, THE SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE MIDDLE EAST PREPAREDNESS TEAM AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS: THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, THE SECRETARY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, THE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF, THE POLICE DIRECTOR GENERAL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MUSLIM AFFAIRS, THE PHILIPPINE AMBASSADORS TO IRAQ AND KUWAIT, AND OTHER OFFICIALS THAT I WILL DESIGNATE.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ WILL BE DONE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH WILL UNDERGO THREE STAGES:

FIRST, THE PRESENT ACTION LED BY THE OFFICE OF RECONSTRUCTION AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE OR O.R.H.A. OR ORHA;

THE SECOND STAGE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERIM AUTHORITY IN IRAQ;

AND THE THIRD STAGE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT AND/OR RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE AND RELATED PROGRAMS IN IRAQ.

THE TASK FORCE SHALL IMMEDIATELY FORMULATE A CONSOLIDATED PLAN OF PROPOSED PHILIPPINE ASSISTANCE FOR THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE IRAQI NATION TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE EVOLVING ASSISTANCE ENVIRONMENT. SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL INCLUDE PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN U.N., ORHA AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN, MEDICAL AND RELATED ACTIVITIES FOR IRAQ, AND OTHER RELEVANT PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION FOR ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ.

THE TASK FORCE SHALL ALSO CONCLUDE ARRANGEMENTS WITH RECEIVING AND HOST GOVERNMENTS WHEREBY THE PHILIPPINE PERSONNEL CONTINGENT IN IRAQ ARE NOT PUT AT PERSONAL RISK FROM APPLICATION OF LOCAL LAW WHEN DEPLOYED ABROAD UPON ORDERS, AND CONDUCT PUBLIC INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN ON THE HAZARDS AND RISK, IF ANY, IN THE SENDING OF PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS.

THE TASK FORCE SHALL ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL GUIDELINES, PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS TO ACCOMPLISH THE SPECIFIED AREAS OF PHILIPPINE PARTICIPATION IN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO POST-WAR IRAQ.

OUR TOTAL PARTICIPATION IN IRAQ'S RECONSTRUCTION SIGNALS THE GLOBAL OUTLOOK THAT MUST ALWAYS INFUSE OUR STRATEGIC ACTIONS.

NAKAHANDANG MAGPADALA NG MGA MANGGAGAWA ANG PILIPINAS UPANG TUMULONG ALINSUNOD SA MGA ADHIKAIN NG UNITED NATIONS. HIGIT NA MAKABULUHAN ANG PAGPAPADALA NATIN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA MULA SA MINDANAO. MAKATUTULONG NG MALAKI ANG PAG-UNAWA NG ATING MGA KABABAYANG MUSLIM SA KINALUGMUKANG SITWASYON NG MGA IRAQI. SAMANTALA, PATULOY ANG REHABILITATION SA ILANG BAHAGI NG MINDANAO NA NAKARANAS DIN NG KARAHASAN. SA GANITONG PARAAN, NATUTUKAN NATIN ANG SARILI NATING PROBLEMA HABANG NAKAKATULONG DIN SA IBA.

DEAR GRADUATES, 'SAMBIGKIS' CLASS 2003 -- TAMANG-TAMA 'YUNG SAMBIGKIS EH -- PINAGSASAMA-SAMA BECAUSE OUR CONCEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY IS REALLY SAMBIGKIS. IT INTERWEAVES A WHOLE RANGE OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS INTO THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPTS OF DEFENSE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

THAT'S WHY TODAY THE JOB OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT AND MORE COMPLICATED IN THIS MILLENNIUM. BUT YOU, CLASS 2003, MUST STICK TO THE RIGHT PATH.

AT MALAKI ANG AKING TIWALA NA ANG KLASE NG 'SAMBIGKIS' CLASS 2003 AY MANGUNGUNA SA PAG-IBAYO NG ATING KAPULISAN SANG-AYON SA MGA HAMON NG BAGONG MILENYO.

MULI, ISANG MAINIT NA PAGBATI SA INYONG PAGTATAPOS. HANGAD KO ANG INYONG TAGUMPAY.

MABUHAY!

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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