PGMA's Speech during the 106th Founding Anniversary of Philippine Army

PGMA's Speech during the 106th Founding Anniversary of Philippine Army

Gen. Tirso Fajardo Bldg. (HPA Grandstand) Fort Andres Bonifacio, Makati City (22 Mar 2003)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SECRETARY ANGELO REYES.

LT. GEN. CAMILING, COMMANDING GGENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY AND MRS. CAMILING; GENERAL DIONISIO SANTIAGO, AFP CHIEF OF STAFF; MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS -- LT. GEN. RODOLFO GARCIA, VICE CHIEF OF STAFF; LT. GEN. NESTOR SANTILLAN, COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE AIR FORCE; REAR ADMIRAL ERNESTO DE LEON, FLAG OFFICER IN COMMAND OF THE PHILIPPINE NAVY -- PNP DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL VIRTUS GIL; GOVERNOR TOMAS JOSON AND THE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVES WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY; SECRETARY ERMITA AND THE OTHER APPOINTIVE CIVILIAN OFFICIALS; FORMER COMMANDING GENERALS OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY; FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES; OFFICERS, MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY; ARMY MAJOR UNIT COMMANDERS; FOREIGN ARMED FORCES ATTACHE CORPS; HONORED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

TROOP COMMANDER, GIVE THE TROOPS 'TIKAS PAHINGA'.

UNA SA LAHAT, ISANG MAKABULUHANG ANIBERSARYO SA HUKBONG KATIHAN NG PILIPINAS.

PANGALAWA, NAGPUPUGAY AKO SA LAHAT NG TAGA-ARMY NA BINIGYAN NG PARANGAL SA OKASYONG ITO, KASAMA NA RIN ANG ATING MGA KABALIKAT NA SIBILYAN KAGAYA NI GOVERNOR JOSON, ANG GOVERNOR NG NUEVA ECIJA NA NAPAKALAKI ANG TULONG SA PHILIPPINE ARMY KAYA MATAHIMIK NGAYON SA NUEVA ECIJA KAHIT NA MAY TERRORISTS THREAT ANG MUNDO MULA SA GIYERA SA IRAQ. CONGRATULATIONS, GOVERNOR JOSON!

BINABATI KO RIN ANG PHILIPPINE BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS SA SAMAR DAHIL SILA AY KABALIKAT NATIN. KAYA DOON SA SAMAR NA MATAGAL NA TINUTURING NOONG ARAW NA HALOS 'NO MAN'S LAND' ANG MARAMING LUGAR, 'YON ANG ISA SA PINAKA MAPAYAPA DOON SA ATING INSURGENCY CAMPAIGN.

BINABATI KO ANG ATING MGA SUNDALO NA NAKAKUHA NG PARANGAL NGAYON SA PANGUNGUNA NOONG MGA NAGSAGIP KAY GRACIA BURNHAM. AT GUSTO KONG BATIIN SA PAMAMAGITAN NILA LAHAT NG ATING MGA BAYANI SA PHILIPPINE ARMY. WHAT AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR US TO BE TOGETHER TODAY: TWO DAYS INTO THE WAR IN IRAQ.

THE FILIPINO SOLDIER I'M SURE COULD BE THE FIRST TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE SUPPORT THE COALITION OF THE WILLING IN ITS EFFORTS TO RID IRAQ OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THE ROOTS OF OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE COALITION OF THE WILLING DATE BACK TO THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 WHEN WE MADE A STRATEGIC DECISION TO JOIN THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST TERRORISM.

BUT EVEN BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -- IN FACT, EVEN BEFORE I BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES -- WE HAD LONG BEEN IN THE FRONTLINE AGAINST TERRORISM IN OUR OWN LAND. AND YOU, THE PHILIPPINE ARMY, YOU HAVE BEEN, UNTIL NOW, AT THE SPEARHEAD OF THIS FRONTLINE.

ONE COUNTRY ALONE CANNOT ELIMINATE TERRORISTS LIKE THE ABU SAYYAF AS THEIR LINKS TO OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS GIVE THEM FINANCIAL SUPPORT, ARMS AND MATERIALS. THE GLOBAL COALITION THAT WAS FORMED TO CHECK TERRORISM HELPED US IN OUR BATTLE WITH THE ABU SAYYAF.

GLOBAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY HAVE BECOME CLOSELY INTERTWINED. SEPARATE NATIONAL INTERESTS ARE WOVEN INTO THE OVERALL FABRIC OF COUNTER-TERRORISM.

AND SO TODAY, WE SUPPORT THE COALITION OF THE WILLING BECAUSE OF THE SAME IMPERATIVES WE FACED ONE YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WE DO NOT WANT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF TERRORISTS OPERATING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

THE THREATS IN SOUTHERN IRAN ARE BEING CLEARED AND AS THE BATTLE FOR BAGHDAD BEGINS, THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF OUR NATIONALS FROM WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IS MORE OR LESS ASSURED.

WE CONDOLE WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE COALITION SOLDIERS WHO PERISHED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. JUST AS WE CONDOLE WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE FILIPINO SOLDIERS WHO PERISHED IN THE LINE OF DUTY FIGHTING TERRORISM IN THE PHILIPPINES.

OUR BEING PART OF THE COALITION OF THE WILLING DOES NOT PRECLUDE OUR FULL SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS IN MEETING THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. WE PRAY THAT THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AS WELL AS OTHER INNOCENT VICTIMS OF WAR, WILL BE SPARED FROM GRAVE SUFFERING AND HARM JUST AS OUR NATIONALS HAVE SO FAR BEEN SPARED. WE'RE PREPARED TO SEND MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND RELIEF WORKERS TO HELP THEM.

WE SHARE WITH ALL MUSLIMS THE PRAYERS FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE. MAY THE ALMIGHTY KEEP THEM SAFE AND SOUND. WE STAND BESIDE THEM IN AWAITING A BRIGHTER DAY FOR FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY.

WHILE WE DEAL WITH THE BROAD RAMIFICATIONS OF THE IRAQ WAR IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST, WE MUST CONTINUE TO TELESCOPE OUR SIGHTS ON THE FIGHT AGAINST INSURGENCY, TERRORISM AND POVERTY WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY.

I CONGRATULATE GENERAL CAMILING FOR THE ARMY'S PLAN ZERO-ZERO AS HE HAS DESCRIBED IT THIS MORNING. THIS PLAN ENHANCES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DYNAMICS OF POLITICAL STABILITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL COHESION, ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND COOPERATION AMONG NATIONS.

I HOPE THIS HELPS OUR OFFICERS CARRY OUT THE COMMAND DIRECTIVE THAT I ISSUED RECENTLY THAT DEFINES STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS OF TACTICAL OPERATIONS.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT DIRECTIVE, I UPHOLD THE AUTHORITY OF FIELD COMMANDERS TO RENDER TACTICAL DECISIONS WITHIN THEIR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE BEEN ASKED, "DID I KNOW ABOUT THE ATTACK IN BULIOK?" YES, I DID. BUT WHETHER OR NOT I HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT, IT WAS WHERE WITHIN THE PREROGATIVE OF THE AREA COMMANDER TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

MEANWHILE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A REMINDER THAT WHILE INVESTING THE COMMANDERS WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF AND SENSITIVE TO THE STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH DECISIONS, AT ALL TIMES, INDEED, IT IS THEIR DECISION, IT IS THEIR AUTHORITY, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

A TACTICAL OPERATION ACQUIRES STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS WHICH OUR COMMANDERS MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EVEN ON THE GROUND WHEN IT INVOLVES PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF OPERATIONS, OR WHEN IT INVOLVES ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES TO THE GENERAL STATE OF LAW AND ORDER, SOCIOECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND POLITICAL STABILITY WITHIN OR BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF OPERATION.

A FIELD COMMANDER MUST BE AWARE OF AND SENSITIVE TO THIS FOREGOING POINTS. IN PARTICULAR, A FIELD COMMANDER SHALL RENDER TACTICAL DECISIONS, AND WE BACKED HIM OR HER UP. A FIELD COMMANDER SHALL CONDUCT OPERATIONS IN A MANNER THAT SHALL ENTAIL THE FOLLOWING:

FIRST, THE LEAST POSSIBLE IMPACT OF SUCH OPERATIONS IN THE LARGE COMMUNITY OF NON-COMBATANTS, ESPECIALLY ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND NORMAL CONDUCT OF EVERYDAY LIFE;

SECOND, MINIMUM EVACUATION FROM HOMES OR AREAS OF FOOD PRODUCTION;

THIRD, CLOSE COORDINATION WITH PERTINENT AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN HIS OR HER AREA OF CONCERN WHEN SOCIOECONOMIC DISLOCATIONS ARE EXPECTED OR BECOME IMMINENT AS A RESULT OF SUCH OPERATIONS;

FOURTH, FULL SAFETY ASSESSMENTS IN COORDINATION WITH THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE FOR AREAS PRONE TO CONFLICT SPILLOVER OR COLLATERAL ACTS OF TERRORISM;

FIFTH, STRATEGIC SENSITIVITY TO PEACE PROCESSES AND NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN AFFECTED ARMED GROUPS; AND

SIXTH, OVERALL ADHERENCE TO NATIONAL POLICIES AND PUBLIC INTEREST.

ALL PERTINENT MILITARY CAMPAIGN PLANS SHALL BE UPDATED TO INCORPORATE A PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS COMPONENT AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION COMPONENT.

I'VE AUTHORIZED THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE TO DETERMINE THE APPLICABLE LEVELS OF COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY ATTENDANT TO MY DIRECTIVE, BUT IN GENERAL, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THIS DIRECTIVE SHOULD APPLY TO BRIGADE COMMANDERS AND ABOVE.

IN ANY CASE, THE EXCLUSIVE POLICY MAKING PREROGATIVE OF CIVILIAN AUTHORITY SHALL NOT BE IMPAIRED.

I'M INSTRUCTING THE ARMY TO EMPHASIZE THIS DIRECTIVE IN YOUR DOCTRINE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR, AS GENERAL CAMILING SAID, PRODUCING 15 FUNCTIONAL MANUALS FOR DOCTRINE DEVELOPMENT WHICH ARE NOW DUE FOR PROMULGATION. TWELVE MORE ARE EITHER BEING REVIEWED OR LINED UP. AND THEY MUST CONFORM AND EMPHASIZE THE DIRECTIVES THAT I HAVE JUST ARTICULATED TODAY.

I CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DOCTRINES MODERNIZATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIVE I GAVE SOMETIME AGO TO KEEP THE ARMY APACE WITH THE 21ST CENTURY AND ALSO WITH OUR LESSONS DERIVED FROM OUR OWN PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGNS. OUR OWN PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGNS HAVE YIELDED RICH AND GLORIOUS MODELS OF COMBAT EXCELLENCE.

I BELIEVE THAT PHILIPPINE DOCTRINE CAN BE ENRICHED BY MANUALIZING LESSONS FROM MANY OF THESE CAMPAIGNS. SOMETIMES, THE BRIGADE COMMANDERS WOULD TELL ME THAT WESTERN DOCTRINE WAS INAPPLICABLE TO THEIR TACTICAL SITUATIONS LIKE FOR INSTANCE IN BASILAN. AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT TOGETHER DOCTRINE BASED ON PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE. EVEN THE AMERICANS IN BALIKATAN HAVE LEARNED FROM US AS MUCH AS WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THEM WHAT IS APPLICABLE TO OUR EXPERIENCE.

TODAY, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE RESCUE OF GRACIA BURNHAM. AND WHEN WE REMEMBERED THAT RESCUE OF GRACIA BURNHAM AS WE GAVE AN AWARD TO HER RESCUERS, WE ALSO REMEMBER THE BRINGING DOWN OF ABU SSABAYA. WE HAVE LEARNED MANY LESSONS OF DOCTRINE FROM THE SPECTACULAR BRINGING DOWN OF ABU SABAYA. AND SECRETARY REYES TELLS ME THAT EVEN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY HAS ADOPTED THAT SPECTACULAR EVENT AS PART OF THEIR OWN MILITARY DOCTRINE. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PHILIPPINE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS AND OUR PILOTS!

MANY OF THE CAMPAIGNS THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IN DEVELOPING DOCTRINE WERE LED BY NO LESS THAN THE INCUMBENT PHILIPPINE ARMY HEAD HIMSELF, GENERAL CAMILING. I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD MANUALIZE THE LESSONS FROM MANY OF HIS WON CAMPAIGNS DURING HIS DAYS AS FIELD COMMANDER. GENERAL CAMILING IS A GREAT WARRIOR. I WOULD LIKE HIM TO SHARE HIS HISTORIC BATTLES AS WELL AS HIS SUCCESSFUL CEASEFIRE INITIATIVES WITH THE REST OF THE ARMY INCORPORATING THEM INTO THE CASE STUDIES FOR DOCTRINE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS WILL TRULY MAKE OUR DOCTRINE MODERN IN PHILIPPINE IN LINE WITH THE PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL MODERNIZATION OF OUR ARMED FORCES.

I CONGRATULATE OUR PHILIPPINE ARMY BECAUSE IN TODAY'S PARADE. AT LONG LAST, WE SEE THE FIRST FRUIT OF OUR MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. THAT IS THE SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPONS THAT ARE BEING HELD BY THE SOLDIERS FACING THE GRANDSTAND TODAY -- TO THE RIGHT OF OUR COLORS, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE GRANDSTAND.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARMED FORCES AND THE PHILIPPINE ARMY BECAUSE THIS MODERNIZATION PROGRAM WAS PUT TOGETHER IN CONGRESS WHEN I WAS STILL SENATOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. IN BETWEEN, I BECAME VICE PRESIDENT AND NOW AT LAST THAT I AM PRESIDENT, AT LAST, WE SEE THE FIRST FRUITS OF OUR MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FRUITS IN OUR FUTURE CEREMONIES AND EVEN IN FUTURE CAMPAIGNS. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN DELAYED IS NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS, BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT 5 BILLION PESOS IN A TRUST FUND AND WE HAVE ALLOCATED ANOTHER 5 BILLION PESOS TO BE PUT IN THE TRUST FUND. WHAT IS DELAYING IT IS A BIDDING PROCEDURE THAT BY THE TIME AN AWARD IS MADE MAYBE THE PLANE OR THE BOAT HAS ALREADY BECOME OBSOLETE BECAUSE THE BIDDING PROCEDURE HAS TAKEN SO LONG.

AND SO, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE TO REVISE THE RULES ON BIDDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM. IF HE WILL REVISE THE RULES OF BIDDING AND PATTERN THEM AFTER THE CIVILIAN RULES OF BIDDING -- THAT UNDER MY DIRECTION THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN CARRYING OUT AND ALL CIVILIAN AGENCIES HAVE BEEN CARRYING OUT -- THEN IT WILL BE MUCH SHORTER BECAUSE THE NEW RULES OF BIDDING IN THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION TAKE ONLY TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO COMPLETE. COMPARE THAT TO MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES.

LET US MODERNIZE OUR ARMED FORCES, LET US MODERNIZE OUR DOCTRINE, LET US MODERNIZE OUR EQUIPMENT, LET US MODERNIZE EVEN OUR BIDDING PROCESSES. LET US MODERNIZE AS WE MODERNIZE THE ENTIRE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

ONCE MORE, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHILIPPINE ARMY. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PARTNER INDIVIDUALS AND OUR PARTNER INSTITUTIONS. THE FILIPINO PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU.

LET US MOVE ON TOWARDS A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC CHARACTERIZED BY PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY.

THANK YOU.

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