The Philippine military has not let the country down despite tremendous challenges, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday as he issued new orders to the 9th Infantry Division in the Bicol Region.
“I said during the command conference very quickly earlier, I see that the actions here, the violent instances of encounters et cetera, have slowly come down and looking at that, all I can say is that once again, I have always been a – I have always said that of all the sectors of society, it is only the military that has never let the Filipino down,” the President said during his Talk to Troops in the AFP’s 9th Infantry Division based at Camp Elias Angeles, San Jose in Pili, Camarines Sur.
“So keep up the good work. Continue your service. Inaasahan namin kayong lahat at hindi naman kayo – wala naman kayong karanasan na hindi niyo tinanggap ang inyong duty at hindi niyo tinupad ang inyong mission,” the President added.
The chief executive also asked the personnel of the 9th ID to become peacemakers under the government’s whole-of-nation approach and actively guard the nation’s borders from external threats amid the current geopolitical tension in Asia.
Asia’s situation, the President said, is becoming more complicated and the country is now facing difficult external threats.
“And with the geographical location of the 9th ID, we can see that it is very close to some of the disputed areas kung saan pumapasok ang mga iba’t ibang barko. Kailangan din nating bantayan ‘yan. Kaya’t ito na naman ay isa pang panibagong mission ninyo,” the Commander-in-Chief told the troops.
The Philippines has to have a sophisticated and well-trained military and the administration has been working very hard to attain that, the President said as he described the Philippine military as a capable and well-prepared force.
In the past, the President said the government neglected the military and failed to develop its capabilities by providing soldiers with modern equipment.
“Ngayon, nagbago na lahat ‘yan. And we in the civilian government are determined to make sure that when we ask you to do your duty, that then you are fully prepared, you are fully trained and you are complete in the equipment that you need to fulfill that mission,” President Marcos pointed out.
In the domestic front, the President asked the troops to become peacemakers as the government carries out new approach to dealing with the communists and terrorist groups that it tries to eliminate.
“We are now not only presenting them with a military force, we are presenting them with other options. We are presenting them with a life after their life as rebels,” the President said.
“And that I think has become the reason why we have slowly succeeded in the so-called whole-of-society, whole-of-nation approach in terms of our dealings with these groups that originally would like to bring down the government by armed struggle,” the President added.
The insurgency situation in Bicol region has evolved and appears to have gained some stability, President Marcos noted. (PND)
