| THANK YOU FOR YOU INTRODUCTION SECRETARY ANGELO REYES, SIR!SI CHUCK AGUSTIN,
CHAIRMAN OF THE PMAAAI AND IN MY ADMINISTRATION, HEAD OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE COLLEGE. AN
INSTITUTION VERY DEAR TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED BY MY FATHER, THE LATE PRESIDENT
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL. SO TAKE GOOD CARE OF NDCP; BRIGADIER GENERAL SAMMY BAGASIN, MY
PERSONAL CHOICE FOR J3. SINABI NI ANGIE REYES MAJOR GENERAL. KAYA 'YAN NA, ALAM MO, WHEN
WE SAY THINGS CASUALLY, WE DON'T DENY THEM ANYWAY; ATING MGA SENADOR AT KONGRESISTA NA
HONORARY MEMBERS NG IBA'T-IBANG KLASE: SI MANNY VILLAR, NANDIYAN, CLASS '77, NANDIYAN DIN
SI JUN LOZADA, AT SAKA SI JAYJAY ROMUALDO NA SIYA RIN ANG CHAIRMAN NG COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE
DOON SA COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS.
I'D LIKE TO GREET,
OF COURSE, THE CHUCK NORRIS OF THE PHILIPPINES, AFP CHIEF DIONISIO SANTIAGO; AND HIS BEST
FRIEND AND CLASSMATE FROM MAPUA AND PMA 'CLASS '70, PNP CHIEF JUN EBDANE; BIRO N'YO AFP
CHIEF AT SAKA PNP CHIEF PAREHONG CLASS '70. MAG-BEST FRIENDS PA, MAG-CLASSMATES PA MULA SA
MAPUA. KUNG GUSTO NILANG MAG-COUP, PWEDE MAG-COUP. PERO GANUN ANG TIWALA KO SA KANILA,
SINABAY KO SA KANILA BILANG CHIEF NG PNP AT SAKA AFP; ISA PANG CLASS '70 PERO DOON SA
ANNAPOLIS, SI ROY GOLEZ; 'YUNG AKING MGA KAKLASE, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND JUBILEE TO US,
25th ANNIVERSARY; AT SAKA NANDITO 'YUNG ATING SPECIAL ENVOY ON MIDDLE EAST PREPAREDNESS NA
MAG AALAGA SA ATIN AT SAKA SA ATING MGA KAPWA PILIPINO DOON KUNG SAKALI MAGKAROON NG
GIYERA, SI AMBASSADOR NA ISA SA AKING DATING CHIEF OF STAFF DIN NG ARMED FORCES,
AMBASSADOR ROY CIMATU; AT CLASS, ANO NGA BA ITO? 1957, DI BA, NG PMA? MY PEACE PROCESS
ADVISER, ED ERMITA; LAHAT NG MGA OFFICIALS AT KASAPI NG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, TO ALL OF YOU:
A PLEASANT DAY TO MY
FELLOW CAVALIERS.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I
GREET MY "CLASSMATES" IN MAKATARUNGAN, HAPPY SILVER ANNIVERSARY TO US. AND OF
COURSE, THE MEMBERS OF CLASS '73, THE SENIOR JUBILARIANS AND HOST OF THIS GOOD GATHERING.
WITH YOU, CAVALIERS,
BY MY SIDE, WE CAN BUILD UPON OUR IDEALS OF LOYALTY, COURAGE AND INTEGRITY AS WE STRIKE
DOWN THE FORCES OF TERRORISM AND WIN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY.
WE'VE HAD
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN FIGHTING THOSE WHO THREATEN OUR SECURITY IN THE PHILIPPINES. THIS
IS THANKS TO A COMBINATION OF INTELLIGENCE, GOOD MILITARY AND POLICE WORK AND A CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT HANDS OUT PUNISHMENT. IN ALL THESE AREAS, WE FIND OUTSTANDING PMA
ALUMNI. MERON NA TAYONG MGA... KARAMIHAN SA INYO NASA MILITARY. MARAMI SA INYO KAGAYA NI
JUN NASA POLICE. EH, SI JUSTICE ELBINIAS NA BAGONG PMA ALUMNUS RIN NASA JUSTICE SYSTEM.
KAYA ITONG TATLONG NAPAKA-KAILANGAN PARA MASUGPO NATIN ANG TERORISMO AT PARA MAAYOS NATIN
ANG KAPAYAPAAN AT KATIWASAYAN, NAROON ANG MALAKING KONTRIBUSYON NG PMA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTION TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
IN ORDER TO PRESERVE
AND GROW THE SUCCESS WE HAVE ACHIEVED, WE CONTINUE TO PROFESSIONALIZE AND MODERNIZE THE
ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY DOCTRINE AS WE CARRY ON FIGHTING THE RECRUITMENT TO TERRORISM
THROUGH OUR FOCUS ON POVERTY REDUCTION. AND THANKS TO THE GENTLEMEN WHO ARE HERE AND THEIR
COLLEAGUES -- MANNY, JAY JAY, JUN -- I HOPE YOU WILL REMEMBER ME AS THE PRESIDENT AND THEY
AS THE CONGRESS, WHO PROVIDED HIGHER PAY TO THE SOLDIERS. I HOPE YOU WILL ALSO REMEMBER ME
AS THE PRESIDENT WHO COMPLETED THE HIGHER PAY TO THE POLICEMEN. AND AS ANGIE SAID, I HOPE
YOU'LL REMEMBER US, ESPECIALLY THE 48 NEW GENERAL WHO CAN BECOME GENERALS BECAUSE OF THE
BILL THAT WILL SOON BE PASSED INTO LAW. AT THE SAME TIME I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW, I'VE
ALSO ASKED CONGRESS TO REFORM THE PAY SCALE OF JUDGES SO THAT WE ARE BETTER ABLE TO
ATTRACT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. NAALAALA KO KASI 'YUNG
BATAS TUNGKOL SA PULIS MATAGAL NA 'YON NAPASA. AKO ANG NAG-IMPLEMENT. NUNG NA-IMPLEMENT KO
ANG SAYA-SAYA NG MGA POLICEMEN. NALUNGKOT NAMAN 'YUNG MGA SUNDALO. BECAUSE WHEN I
IMPLEMENTED THE PAY INCREASE OF THE POLICEMEN THAT HAD BEEN PASSED INTO LAW 10 YEARS
BEFORE, WHEN I FINALLY IMPLEMENTED IT AFTER 10 YEARS, THE MASTER SERGEANT IN THE POLICE
WAS GETTING A HIGHER PAY THAN THE BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE MILITARY. AND THAT IS WHY UPON
THE ADVICE OF ANGIE REYES -- MY SENIOR BECAUSE HE'S CLASS '66 -- I CERTIFIED TO CONGRESS
THE BILL THAT THEY SO READILY AND WILLINGLY PASSED PARA SA GANUN NAKAHABOL NA RIN
ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR KUNG PUMASA 'YUNG BUDGET NA WALANG PROBLEMA AABOT NA RIN, HAHABOL NA
RIN ANG SUWELDO NG MGA SUNDALO SA SUWELDO NG MGA TEACHERS AT MGA PULIS. ANG PROBLEMA 'YUNG
MGA JUDGE. EH DOON SA PULIS, SA MGA SUNDALO KAHIT NA NOON UMAANGAL NA MABABA ANG SUWELDO
MARAMI PA RING PULIS, MARAMI PA RING SUNDALO NAG-E-ENLIST. ANG PROBLEMA SA MGA JUDGES
HINDI SILA UMAANGAL PERO HINDI SILA PUMAPASOK BILANG JUDGE. ONE THIRD OF OUR SALAS ARE
EMPTY BECAUSE OF THE LOW PAY. A JUDGE NEEDS TO HAVE TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, 'DI BA
JUSTICE, BEFORE HE CAN BECOME A JUDGE? BUT UNDER THE PRESENT SCALE, HE GETS LOWER PAY THAN
A BRAND NEW LAWYER WHO WILL ENTER A PRIVATE FIRM. AND SO, THAT IS WHY IF YOU WANT TO
COMPLETE THE FIGHT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, FOR PEACE AND ORDER TOGETHER WITH THE POLICEMEN
AND THE SOLDIERS, WE MUST HAVE ENOUGH JUDGES ON BOARD, AND ALL OF THESE IS PART OF MY GOOD
GOVERNANCE REFORM AND PROMOTION PROGRAM, ONE OF THE KEY REFORMS NEEDED TO REBUILD OUR
COUNTRY.
I CAME TO OFFICE
WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THE POLICE, AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THE
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES FOCUSED ON THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY, IMPROVED SOCIAL EQUITY,
HIGHER MORAL STANDARDS, AND MODERNIZING THE ECONOMY. I WILL LEAVE THE OFFICE FOCUSED ON
THE SAME PRIORITIES, AND I AM NOW FREE TO ACT WITH A MORE DETERMINED HAND.
WHILE THE WAR ON
TERROR HAS NOT CHANGED THE PRIORITIES I HAVE JUST MENTIONED, IT HAS REVEALED THE
IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTING TERRORISM AND TERRORISM'S HANDMAIDEN -- POVERTY. IT HAS GIVEN US
NEW ALLIES IN THE WARS WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO ADDRESS THE IMPORTANT WAR ON POVERTY. I
WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE IN THE NEWSPAPERS, THE BULLETPROOF VEST BEING TURNED OVER TO OUR
SOLDIERS BECAUSE NOW THE MUTUAL LOGISTICS SUPPORT AGREEMENT ALLOWS THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR SOLDIERS HAVE MORE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR OWN
FORCE PROTECTION.
THE WAR ON TERRORISM
HAS ALSO GLOBALIZED TERRORISM, SO TO SPEAK. WE'RE ALL LINKED IN THE CYCLE OF TERROR. WE
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE GETTING FROM OUR PARTNERS IN THE GLOBAL COALITION
AGAINST TERRORISM, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THIS
BATTLE ESPECIALLY HERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
I THINK THAT THERE
HAVE BEEN MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT HAVE DEFUSED THE STRENGTH OF THE TERRORISTS NETWORKS,
BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT TERRORISM MAY HAVE BECOME AN UNFORTUNATE FACT OF LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN
EVERY NATION OF THE WORLD. BUT I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD THAT MUCH OF THE PROGRESS IN HUNTING
DOWN TERRORISTS IN ASIA HAS BEEN THE RESULT OF CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SECURITY AND
POLICE FORCES OF MANY OF OUR COUNTRIES. IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE WORKED NOT ONLY WITH THE
UNITED STATES BUT ESPECIALLY WITH MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA WITH GREAT SUCCESS. OUR CLOSE
COOPERATION WITH THESE NEIGHBORS AND WITH OTHERS IN OUR REGION, AND INTERNATIONALLY WILL
CONTINUE. IT IS ONLY BY SHARING INFORMATION AND JOINTLY CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS THAT WE
WILL HAVE ANY HOPE OF DEFUSING THIS THREAT SUCCESSFULLY.
I WANT TO MAKE IT
CLEAR ON THE ISSUE OF IRAQ THAT IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS. THOUGH ROY IS HERE TO PREPARE US FOR THE WORST,
IF ANY ACTION IS TAKEN MILITARILY, WE HOPE THAT IT IS DONE SO THROUGH THE AUSPICES OF THE
UNITED NATIONS. ANY OTHER ACTION IS PREMATURE TO SPECULATE ON AT THIS TIME.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN
ASKED: WHICH GROUPS POSE A GREATER THREAT: THE NPA, THE MILF OR ABU SAYYAF, OR THE
CRIMINALS GROUPS, THE OTHER CRIMINAL GROUPS?
I SAY, ANY GROUP
THAT EMBRACES ACTS OF TERRORISM POSES A GREAT THREAT TO OUR COUNTRY. BUT WHAT IS MORE
IMPORTANT IS IDENTIFYING THE REAL BATTLE. THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM CANNOT BE WON JUST
MILITARILY. MILITARY, POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS ARE ALL IMPORTANT. THE
POLITICAL SOLUTION WOULD ASSURE PEACE TALKS WITH THOSE WHO RENOUNCE TERRORISM AND ARE
WILLING TO GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. THE CULTURAL SOLUTION IS TO MAKE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING. THE ECONOMIC SOLUTION IS ADDRESSING THE BREEDING OR RECRUITING
GROUND OF TERRORISM, THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY. PEOPLE WITHOUT HOPE ARE THE ONES WHO BECOME
THE FOOT SOLDIERS OF TERRORISM. THAT'S WHY MY PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IN OUR
COUNTRY HAS A SENSE OF HOPE.
AS YOU KNOW VERY
WELL, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE MILF BOTH MILITARILY AND DIPLOMATICALLY. MILITARILY,
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANGIE REYES AND DIONET SANTIAGO. DIPLOMATICALLY, UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF YET ANOTHER PEEMAYER, ED ERMITA. AND WE'VE BEEN SUCCEEDING ON BOTH FRONTS.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MILF WILL MEAN THAT THEY WILL PUT DOWN THEIR
ARMS AND WORK TO BUILD A BETTER NATION IN PEACE.
BUT I BELIEVE, ALL
ARMED GROUPS KNOW THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ENGAGING THEM MILITARILY SHOULD THEY NOT
CHOOSE THE PATH TO PEACE.
WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
NEGOTIATING FOR PEACE, BUT WE WILL ONLY MAKE PEACE WITH THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ENDING
THEIR LINKS WITH VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THEY WILL SEE THAT THEIR
FUTURE RESTS WITH PEACEFUL CHANGE, NOT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE WHO PLACE NO VALUE ON THE
LIVES OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
LET ME BE CLEAR: MY
HEART GOES OUT TO THE POOR BUT I HAVE NO TOLERANCE FOR THOSE TERRORISTS WHO MANIPULATE
THEM. THE POOR DESERVE A BETTER LIFE; THE TERRORIST DESERVES A COLD JAIL CELL.
YESTERDAY, I ORDERED
JUN EBDANE, CLASS '70, TO IMMEDIATELY FORM A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO NEUTRALIZE URBAN
GUERRILLA HIT SQUADS WHICH MAY BE OPERATION IN METRO MANILA. THE BRUTAL SLAYING OF FORMER
NPA LEADER ROLLY KINTANAR CANNOT GO UNPUNISHED. THE TASK FORCE IS HEREBY EMPOWERED TO USE
ALL AVAILABLE MEANS IN OUR DEMOCRATIC ARSENAL TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PERPETRATORS AND CARRY
OUT MY GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.
BUT WE SHALL NOT
STRIKE OUT INDISCRIMINATELY. WE SHALL TAKE DOWN THE MOST INCORRIGIBLE TERRORISTS, BUT WE
SHALL BE MINDFUL, AS ROLLY KINTANAR WAS MINDFUL IN HIS LIFE, OF THE IMPERATIVES OF PEACE.
OUR INTERNAL SECURITY POLICY SHALL CONTINUE TO REST UPON A BALANCE OF FOCUSED SECURITY
OPERATIONS AND PEACE INITIATIVES. WE CANNOT DISREGARD THE PARAMOUNT NEED FOR LAW AND
ORDER. BUT WE CANNOT BE HEEDLESS OF OUR PEOPLE'S ASPIRATIONS FOR PEACE.
WE SHALL NOT GIVE
ANY QUARTER TO TERRORIST GROUPS. WE HAVE DEPLOYED THE TEAMS TO BRING THEIR URBAN CELLS TO
JUSTICE.
GOVERNMENT SHALL NOT
ALLOW THE MURDER AND INTIMIDATION OF FORMER REBELS WHO HAVE COME BACK TO THE FOLD AND
HELPED US IN OUR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THREATS WILL NOT WORK AND SHALL BE
ANSWERED BY COUNTERFORCE.
BUT WE SHALL TALK
PEACE WITH THOSE WHO ARE SERIOUS IN THIS GREAT QUEST O OUR PEOPLE FOR PEACE. I HAVE
APPROVED THE GOVERNMENT'S DRAFT FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNIST PARTY. IT MEETS
THE STANDARDS OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND THE CONSTITUTION. IT HAS BEEN VETTED BY THE MILITARY
TOP BRASS. IT HAS BEEN VETTED WITH MANY LEADERS OF CONGRESS. AND SO, LET US PROCEED TO
SEARCH FOR PEACE, AT THE SAME TIME, LET US MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENFORCING THE PEACE.
A CRUCIAL ELEMENT TO
THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY IS THE PROSPECT OF A BETTER LIFE: MORE JOBS, MORE JUSTICE, MORE
DEMOCRACY, MORE PEACE AND ORDER. IN TURN, IF WE ARE TO WIPE OUT TERRORISM, WE MUST DO MORE
THAN JUST HAVE SUCCESSFUL MILITARY ENGAGEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE SHARING. WE MUST PROVIDE A
BETTER LIFE FOR THE POOR.
AS I'VE LONG SAID,
WE ARE FIGHTING THE WAR ON TWO FRONTS: THE FIRST IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON THOSE WHO HAVE
SPREAD TERROR IN OUR COUNTRY, AND WE ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT; THE
SECOND IS THE WAR ON THE POVERTY THAT IS THE BREEDING GROUND OF TERRORISM. PEOPLE, AS I
SAID EARLIER, WHO HAVE NO HOPE BECOME THE FOOT SOLDIERS OF TERRORISM. AND ONCE AGAIN, I
REPEAT, OUR PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COUNTRY HAS A SENSE OF HOPE.
AS ANGIE REYES HAS
REMINDED EVERYONE -- NOTWITHSTANDING, WE'RE IN THIS HALL WHERE PROTOCOL IS IN TERMS OF
YOUR GRADUATING CLASS -- I AM THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, I AM THE CAPTAIN
OF THE SHIP, AND I WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL MY TERM ENDS. JUST AS DIONET SANTIAGO WILL REMAIN
THE CHIEF OF STAFF UNTIL HIS TERM ENDS. I AM GOING TO FOCUS LIKE A LASER BEAM ON THE
ECONOMY AND LAW AND ORDER FOR THE NEXT 17 MONTHS. I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS
AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO RETREAT RATHER FORGE AHEAD
WITH REFORM.
FOR TOO LONG, THE
PHILIPPINES HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE MUSICAL CHAIRS OF POLITICS. THIS MUST STOP. TOO MUCH
IS AT STAKE. IN DECIDING NOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004, MY AIM IS TO UNIFY THE NATION,
BUT DO SO ON A STEADFAST PATH TO REFORM AND MODERNIZATION. THE ECONOMY AND PEACE AND ORDER
WILL BE MY FOCUS; REFORM WILL BE MY GOAL.
WE HAVE MUCH TO BE
THANKFUL FOR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS INCLUDING AN ECONOMY THAT HAS ACHIEVED IMPRESSIVE
GROWTH IN 2002, IN 2001 INSPITE OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE COUNTRIES AROUND US. WE HAVE A
STABLE MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING LOW INFLATION, EXPORT FIGURES THAT ARE STRONG,
EVEN TOURISM FIGURES THAT ARE STRONG INSPITE THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. WE HAVE A
WORKFORCE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD.
BUT, WE ARE ALSO A
NATION THAT NEEDS TO UNITE IF WE ARE TO WIN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY, AND IF WE ARE TO
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF OUR CITIZENS.
SO I ASK YOU FELLOW
CAVALIERS, HELP ME. HELP ME GAIN THE SUPPORT OF EVERY FILIPINO -- TO FIGHT POVERTY, TO
FIGHT TERRORISM.
ANG KATATAGAN NG
ATING REPUBLIKA AY TUNGKULIN NG LAHAT.
KAYA AKO'Y
NAGPAPASALAMAT SA INYO DAHIL KAYO AY SUMUPORTA SA AKIN SA NAKARAANG DALAWANG TAON, AT
INAASAHAN KO NA SA INYONG PAGSUSUPORTA SA GIYERA KAYO RIN ANG MAGSUSUPORTA PARA MAPAGKAISA
SA WAKAS MULI ANG ATING BANSA.
MARAMING SALAMAT AT
MAGANDANG ARAW SA INYONG LAHAT. |