By Jamina Joaquin
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday, March 16 commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for its service to the Filipino people.
“[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,” Marcos said during his Talk to Troops in the AFP’s 9th Infantry Division (ID) at Camp Elias Angeles, San Jose in Pili, Camarines Sur.
The President also appealed to the troops to “become peacemakers under the government’s whole-of-nation approach.”
Citing the current situation in Asia, the President urged personnel of the 9th ID to actively guard the country’s borders from external threats amid the current geopolitical tension in the region.
“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 chief executive said.
Meanwhile, despite having faced challenges in the capacity building of troops in the past, the President described the Philippine military as a “capable and well-prepared force.”
New approach in dealing with CTGs
The President noted that the government presents a different approach in dealing with the communists and terrorist groups, who have been known to cause problems across the country.
“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. – cf
