By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Sa inyong pagbabantay sa ating karagatan, tangan ninyo hindi lamang ang watawat ng Pilipinas, kundi pati na rin ang tiwala at pag-asa ng sambayanang Pilipino.”
In a ceremony on Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed oneness with those affected by the magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake that rocked Sarangani and nearby provinces in Mindanao Monday.
This, as he lauded the prompt activation of disaster response mechanisms by the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, in accordance with his directive to ensure immediate aid and humanitarian assistance operations for displaced individuals.
President Marcos Jr. went on to welcome the addition of a new ship to the growing fleet of vessels operated by the Philippine Navy, which would aid in carrying forward their mandate of protecting Philippine waters from the encroachment of any foreign power.
Before giving his speech, the President was escorted on a guided walkthrough of BRP Rajah Lakandula, named after one of the leaders of pre-colonial Manila, who epitomizes the values of courage and leadership.
The commissioning of BRP Lakandula coincides with the celebration of the 128th anniversary of the Philippine Navy, who continues to fulfill their duty of defending Philippine sovereignty in the face of evolving security threats and challenges.
President Marcos Jr. said in his speech, “Through the modernization of the Navy, we are safeguarding our economic lifelines, protecting our people, and enhancing our ability to contribute to security and cooperation in our region.
This Administration likewise believes that our greatest asset is our people. We continue to conduct training courses to ensure that our sailors have the tools, the information, and protection that will help them carry out their missions effectively.”
The Chief Executive concluded his speech by leading the presentation of awards to outstanding military and civilian personnel in recognition of their exemplary service, bravery, and contributions to the Philippine Navy.
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