PGMA's Speech during the Commencement Exercises of the 98th Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Mandarangan" Class 2003

PMA Borromeo Field, Fort Del PIlar, Baguio City (20 Mar 2003)

YOU MAY SIT DOWN. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE TROOP COMMANDER TO GIVE "TIKAS PAHINGA."

CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL SANTIAGO AND MRS. SANTIAGO; PMA SUPERINTENDENT MAJOR GENERAL ADAN AND MRS. ADAN; BAGUIO CITY MAYOR, MAYOR VERGARA; BENGUET GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR MOLINTAS; MEMBERS OF MY CABINET; THE GENERAL STAFF LED BY THE VICE CHIEF OF STAFF LIEUTENANT GENERAL RODOLFO GARCIA; THE MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS: REAR ADMIRAL ERNESTO DE LEON, LIEUTENANT GENERAL NESTOR SANTILLAN AND LIEUTENANT GREGORIO CAMILING; CONGRESSMAN AND MRS. MAURICIO DOMOGAN; FOREIGN ARMED FORCES ATTACHES; OTHER PMA OFFICERS AND THEIR LADIES; OTHER AFP OFFICERS AND THEIR LADIES; PMA 'MANDARANGAN' CLASS 2003; KANILANG MGA MAGULANG; KANILANG MGA KAMAG ANAK; KANILANG MGA KAIBIGAN; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.

UNA SA LAHAT, ISANG NAPAKAINIT NA PAGBATI SA LAHAT NG NAGTATAPOS NGAYON BILANG KASAMA NG CLASS 'MANDARANGAN' PMA CLASS 2003, CONGRATULATIONS SA INYONG LAHAT.

AT BILANG BABAENG COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ESPESYAL ANG PAGBATI KO KAY 2ND LIEUTENANT TARA JAIME VELAZCO, NA IKALAWA PA LAMANG NA BABAE NA NAGKAMIT NG PINAKAMATAAS NA KARANGALAN SA PMA.

LIEUTENANT VELAZCO AND ALL THE GRADUATES OF PMA CLASS 2003, FROM THIS DAY ON, YOU ARE ALL ARMED FORCES OFFICERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. ISANG MALAKING KARANGALAN ITO AT ISA RING MALAKING RESPONSIBILIDAD. LALO NA SA MGA PANAHONG ITO.

EVEN AS I SPEAK, THE SIGNALS OF WAR RING OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. A MINUTE AGO, I JUST RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE DISARMAMENT OF IRAQ -- THE WAR HAS JUST BEGUN.

THE PHILIPPINES IS PART OF THE COALITION OF THE WILLING. WE ARE GIVING POLITICAL AND MORAL SUPPORT FOR ACTIONS TO RID IRAQ OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WE ARE PART OF A LONG STANDING SECURITY ALLIANCE. WE ARE PART OF THE GLOBAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM. THESE RELATIONSHIPS ARE VITAL TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. THEY BEAR A SIGNIFICANCE TO THIS WAR AND TO OUR COMBINED EFFORTS TO FIGHT TERRORISM IN THE PHILIPPINES AS WELL AS IN THE REGION.

WE SHALL NOT BE DEPLOYING PHILIPPINE COMBAT TROOPS. SO IN THE DAYS AHEAD, CLASS 2003 WILL NOT BE ENGAGED IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUT RATHER MANY WILL BE ENGAGED IN MINDANAO.

BUT THE PHILIPPINES IS COMMITTED TO EXTEND PEACEKEEPING AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN IRAQ AFTER THE CONFLICT. THIS ASSISTANCE IS A SUBJECT OF ONGOING CONSULTATIONS.

THE WAR IN IRAQ IS A REALITY THAT WE EXPECTED. WE EXPECT IT TO BE SURGICAL, SHORT AND SWIFT. FOR NOW, WE HAVE TO FACE OUR IMMEDIATE IMPERATIVES.

THE MORAL AND POLITICAL CAUSE TO RID IRAQ OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION DOES NOT POSE A MORTAL THREAT TO OUR NATIONALS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY ARE IN THE GOOD HANDS OF OUR EMBASSIES, THEIR EMPLOYERS AND THE HOST GOVERNMENTS. NONETHELESS, WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS A TIME OF EXTREME DISTRESS AMONG ALL CITIZENS OF THE WORLD INCLUDING FILIPINOS. THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO OPEN THE WIDEST LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR NATIONALS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE PHILIPPINES. GOVERNMENT CALL CENTERS ARE OPEN IN MANY PLACES. LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER OUR NATIONALS AND THEIR FAMILIES: WE WILL PLACE YOUR CALLS TO YOUR LOVED ONES AT NO COST.

WE SHALL SPARE NO EFFORT TO KEEP OUR NATIONALS OUT OF HARM'S WAY. CONTINGENCY MEASURES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE TO SAFEGUARD THE LIFE AND LIMB OF OUR NATIONALS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. MOST OF THEM WILL STAY IN PLACE IN ORDER TO BE ENVELOPED BY THE EFFECTIVE DEFENSES AGAINST ANY ATTACK. THESE DEFENSES HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE BY THE HOST NATIONS IN COOPERATION WITH THE COALITION FORCES.

THE WORLD MUST BE READY FOR TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ANY COUNTRY. THERE IS NO USE TO ARGUE THAT OUR POLITICAL POSITION WILL ONLY MULTIPLY TERRORIST ATTACKS IN OUR COUNTRY. ANG MGA TERORISTANG 'YAN HINDI NAGTANONG KUNG ANO ANG PULITIKA NG INDONESIA NOONG GINAWA NILA 'YUNG KARAHASAN SA BALI. SO LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE MUST BE READY FOR TERRORIST ATTACKS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE WORST -- BASILAN, GENERAL SANTOS, ZAMBOANGA, METRO MANILA, DAVAO. OUR MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES ARE ALREADY IN A HIGH STATE OF ALERT. OUR COMMUNITIES MUST COMBINE VIGILANCE WITH CALM AND HELP THE AUTHORITIES CHECK TERRORIST INCURSIONS.

ANY POTENTIAL SOCIOECONOMIC DISLOCATIONS, WHILE REMOTE, SHALL BE DEALT WITH IN THE HIGHEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC. WE WILL NOT ALLOW TRANSIENT INSTABILITIES TO PREJUDICE THE POOR AND UNDERPRIVILEGED. A PRICE WATCH OF PRIME COMMODITIES IS BEING IMPLEMENTED. WE WARN HOARDERS AND PROFITEERS.

THE INVESTIGATION OF SIX BANKS IS JUST ONE OF THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT VERSUS OPPORTUNIST MARKET SPECULATORS AND DOLLAR HOARDERS. COMING AT A TIME OF CRISIS, THESE VIOLATIONS ARE TANTAMOUNT TO ECONOMIC SABOTAGE.

THE SLUMPING OF THE PESO IS NOT A TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO FALL PREY TO THOSE WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CRISIS. IT IS A TIME FOR US TO CLOSE RANKS, HAVE PRUDENCE, AND COOPERATE TO ADDRESS ALL CHALLENGES.

IT IS AT TIMES LIKE THIS THAT WE MUST THINK ABOUT OUR TOGETHERNESS AS A NATION, OUR SENSE OF BELONGING TO ONE REPUBLIC, AND KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT CARES FOR ITS CITIZENS.

I ASK FOR COMPLETE AND TOTAL VIGILANCE. EXTREMISTS ARE LIKELY TO ATTACK IN DESPERATION, ANYWHERE AND IN ANY MANNER. LET US BAND TOGETHER, MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE, IN THE TASK OF VIGILANCE AND IN PRESERVING THE RAMPARTS OF PEACE. THE SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR NATION IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE. EACH FILIPINO MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OR HER FELLOW HUMAN BEING. THIS IS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS, AS WE HAVE DONE SO MANY TIMES IN THE PAST.

LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO CONVENE ALL CRISIS MANAGEMENT COUNCILS NOW, AND TO PERSONALLY AND CLOSELY SUPERVISE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL CONTINGENCY PLANS. THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL MONITOR THESE ACTIVITIES AND REPORT TO ME REGULARLY.

MY EMERGENCY POWERS ARE IN RESERVE. THESE SHALL BE USED IN CONSULTATION WITH CONGRESS FOR THE SAKE AND WELFARE OF THE FILIPINO IN THE MIDST OF EXTREME ECONOMIC AND SECURITY CONTINGENCY. BUT I DO NOT SEE A NECESSITY OF SUCH POWERS AT THIS MOMENT. WE MUST CALIBRATE SUCH MEASURES TO EMERGING CRITICAL SITUATIONS.

CLASS 2003, AS YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I MUST TELL YOU THAT THERE WILL BE DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD OF YOU, ESPECIALLY IN MINDANAO WHERE MANY OF YOU WILL SOON BE FRONTLINERS IN THE CAMPAIGN TO WIN THE PEACE. CONVENTIONAL BATTLES ARE MIXED WITH TERRORIST ATTACKS, AGAINST NOT ONLY SOLDIERS BUT EVEN INNOCENT CIVILIANS. THE ENEMIES ASSAULT AND THEY BOMB USING MILITARY TACTICS TO PERFORM CRIMINAL ACTS. THE ENEMIES USE THE WEAPONS OF FEAR, DISINFORMATION AND DESTABILIZATION. THE ENEMIES ARE LINKED WITH TERRORIST CELLS OVERSEAS. THE EXTREMIST FACTIONS AMONG THEM HAVE USED THE SHOCK EFFECT OF THEIR UNREASONABLE AND REPREHENSIBLE ACTS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION AND GRAB CENTER STAGE FROM WHICH THEY HAVE FANNED THE FLAMES OF NATIONAL ANGER AND DISGUST.

THE EXTREMIST FRINGE HAS DISTORTED THE AGENDA, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE AVERAGE FILIPINO TO GAIN THE BALANCED UNDERSTANDING OF MINDANAO THAT WE NEED TO UNITE OUR PEOPLE BEHIND A JUST AND LASTING SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE CONFLICT IN MINDANAO IS NOT A RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC WAR BETWEEN MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN. THE ONGOING CAMPAIGN IN MINDANAO IS AGAINST LAWLESS ELEMENTS WHO ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND WHO FLAUNT THEIR VIOLATION OF THE LAWS OF OUR SOCIETY.

THE DIFFERENT ARMED GROUPS IN MINDANAO ARE NOT HOMOGENEOUS, AND EACH OF THOSE ARMED GROUPS IS DISTINCT FROM THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN MINDANAO. BY THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS I'M REFERRING TO THE FAR GREATER NUMBER OF NON-COMBATANTS, WHETHER CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM OR LUMAD, WHO ARE OFTEN FORGOTTEN, BUT WHOSE ONLY VESTED INTEREST IS PEACE. THERE IS ALSO THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE, WHOSE INTEREST IS PEACE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.

UNLESS WE AS A PEOPLE COME TO TERMS WITH MINDANAO, WE WILL NEVER ATTAIN OUR FULL PROMISE AS A NATION, A GREAT DEMOCRACY, A STRONG REPUBLIC. THUS, WE MUST ARRIVE AT A NATIONAL CONSENSUS ON THE PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE OUR SEARCH FOR PEACE.

THE END STATE THAT WE ENVISION FOR MINDANAO IS THIS: A REGION OF PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT. THE ELEMENTS OF THIS END STATE ARE:

FIRST, THE PRESENCE OF PEACE AND THE ABSENCE OF IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED CONFLICT, AND THE RENUNCIATION OF THE USE OF FORCE TO PURSUE POLITICAL ENDS; SECOND, DEVELOPMENT BASED ON POLITICAL STABILITY, ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND GOOD GOVERNANCE;

THIRD, THE COMPLETE ACCEPTANCE OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY BASED ON THE CONSTITUTION AND THE RULE OF LAW TOGETHER WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF EXTERNAL PEACE WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS;

FOURTH, A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL AND INSTITUTIONALIZED ACCOMMODATION OF ETHNIC TRADITIONS; AND

FIFTH, THE TOTAL DEFEAT OF TERRORISM.

CLASS 2003, IT IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT TO HELP ME ACHIEVE THIS VISION. I CALL ON YOU TO HELP ESTABLISH MINDANAO AS A REGION OF PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT. FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE ASSIGNED IN MINDANAO AND FOR THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE ASSIGNED TO MINDANAO FOR THE MOMENT, I CALL ON YOU TO HELP OUR PEOPLE BUILD A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC. AND AS YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, LET ME ASSURE YOU, OUR SOLDIERS, THAT CIVILIAN SOCIETY APPRECIATES WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR.

AND SO CLASS 2003, I SALUTE ALL OF YOU. I SHALL BE PROUD TO SEE YOU IN THE FIELD, WINNING OVER THE ENEMY AND SERVING OUR PEOPLE.

CONGRATULATIONS! AND THANK YOU.

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