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Speech of CG, PAF

First Monday Flag-Raising

03 March 2008

CJVAB Grandstand

Officers, enlisted men and civilian employees of the Philippine Air Force, maganda at mapayapang umaga sa inyo.

Last Friday we witnessed an important event in our life in service. We saw once more the spectacle of crowds trying to impose their will on our President in an effort to force her out of office. The effort failed. The organizers said that it was the beginning…again of bigger rallies to come. In this sense, it was a success. In reality, it was a failure. It failed because the agitators were not united. The political opposition groups were divided. The business groups were divided. Even the church groups were divided. The schools were likewise divided. The youth segments were divided. (Many of them were, in fact, attending Neyo’s concert at the Fort). The people were divided. The organizers themselves could not get their acts together.

The effort failed because those groups calling for the ouster of our President had no alternative to offer. One group wanted our pardoned former President to succeed as leader again. Another group wanted our Vice-President, who refuses to be part of it. Others opposed the idea. The rest could not make up their minds. The majority just wanted to hear the truth, hoping that in the process the President would resign.

The effort failed because the rallyists did not share a common mission beyond seeing the Palace vacated, never mind if no one would be In control and chaos would ensue. No wonder, even the supporters had misgivings and drew back, instead of putting their resources on the line. Even some groups already In the thick of the rally got dismayed and left the scene. The momentum fizzled in only a few hours.

In contrast, the AFP succeeded because in maintaining order while ensuring that peaceful freedom of expression actually took place. We succeeded because we were united. The Air Force, along with the rest of the AFP and PNP, stood solid and grounded in duty. Our units all across the country were one with Unified Commands in their AORs.

We succeeded because we had a clear objective: to keep ourselves above the political noise, while not abandoning our duty to protect and respond since we never knew when a crowded situation could deteriorate as precipitated by one reckless move. Instead, our wigs flew to disaster-stricken Samar to help save lives and provide timely relief and comfort.

We succeeded because we were committed to our constitutionally-mandated duties, and our commitment was strong. We stood guard against disinformation and rose alert to any movement within and outside our ranks. And we refused to let the situation get out of hand.

The following day, those who participated In the rally had all excuses ad blames. Some commentators cast the military in unflattering light. But the media basically took different perspectives.

In her Philippine Daily Inquirer column last Saturday, Solita Monsod asked the following questions: "Do I want truth and accountability in the country? Of course, I do… Do I want an end to corruption, and punishment for the wrongdoers? Of course, I do…Do I want President Macapagal-Arroyo to be removed from office? Only if she has been found guilty…through the prescribed process.”

Professor Monsod explored the key question: “What good will it do if (President Arroyo) resigns? First her appointees will have to go…Second, the unhealthy hold of the military/police over the presidency will be severed, or, at least, the doubts about civilian supremacy over the military will be erased…Thirdly, if she goes, her family goes, too.” “(On the other hand) what good will it do if she stays on? For one, the economy has never looked so good. GDP at an increasing rate, a healthy fiscal picture, low interest rates, increased human priority, increased direct foreign investments, much lighter debt burden, higher international credit ratings—the list of her government’s accomplishments is quite long…it’s not perfect, but it is arguably a better performance than that of her predecessors… For two, the 2007 picture seems to be brighter as far as poverty is concerned….”

Now here’s the clincher: As far as she is concerned, she thinks that the President should not resign. Why?” Because the good of her resigning will likely not be permanent: there is no assurance that Vice President Noli De Castro will not make the same mistakes and will not have similar political debts to pay to other people. At the same time there’s no assurance that he will be able to manage the economy as well as she has. “What about corruption? Changing Guard will not guarantee its eradication. Only constant vigilance and whistle-blowing will. There is no quick-fix.”

I had to liberally quote those lines because they happen to be from a critic, who is not exactly generous with the military, but nonetheless keeps an objective view of things.

And this exactly what we did last Friday. We stayed calm and collected. We went about our duties and routine work. We even held boodlefights together. This to me is what matters.

For this I congratulate each one of you for your dedication to duty. Natutuwa ako na walang isa mang sundalong Air Force na sumama para mag-rally at sirain and kanyang sinumpaang salita ng katapatan.

And so today, gusto ko kayong pasalamatan lahat. As a matter of fact, I hereby give instructions for all members of the Philippine Air Force to be given appropriate letter of commendation for their show of dedication to duty.

As I had often repeated since becoming your CG, we cannot afford to return to 1986, to 2001 or to 2003, when we members of the military, obliged to be used by other forces to destabilize and displace the government.

We have already learned our lessons the hard way. And we have seen that it is not worth it. Wala naman talagang nangyari sa atin. That’s why I say and emphasize over and over: NEVER AGAIN! Tama na yung dinaanan nating hirap at sakripisyo noon. Tama na yug pagkakamali na nauwi sa paggamit ng armas at dahas. Tama na yung military involvement. Panahon na para ipakita natin na lagi ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas ay hindi rebolusyunaryo, kundi propesyonal na tagapagtanggol ng ating bansa.

Let me strike one other word into your hearts today, one which is all-too familiar, but which many of you might have already take for granted.

On top of loyalty, of dedication to duty, of solidarity, is the word integrity, the soundness of our moral principles and character, and much more.

In the time of 12 Ceasars, during an inspection by the Centurion, or Roman army officer a soldier would strike fist the armor breastplate that covered his heart and shout “integritas”, meaing “material wholeness”. The inspecting Centurion would listen very careful to the sound of the armor as it was being struck dahil sa tunog pa lang nalalaman kung mahina yung bakal at kung kaya butasin ng kalaban. At about the same time, the Praetorians or imperial bodyguards wore their own armor which were of the finest metal and craftsmanship. These bodyguards also struck their breastplates upon inspection. But instead of shouting “integritas”, they shouted “Hail Caesar!” to signify that their heart belonged to the imperial personage- not to their unit not to an institution, not to a code of ideals-but to a single man.

Over the years, as the imperial bodyguards grew in power, so did their excesses and immoral acts which disillusioned the legionnaires, who then started shouting “integer,” instead of “integritas.” “Integer, “as opposed to “integritas” meant ‘undiminished’, ‘complete’, ‘perfect’. According to General Charles Krulack, it “not only indicated that the armor was sound, but that the soldier wearing the armor was of sound character. He was complete in his integrity... his heart was in the right place... his standards and morals were high. Unfortunately after over four centuries, the Romans gradually discarded the weight of their armor as they succumbed to negligence, the feel of power and laziness to drill. Those, in turn, eventually led to their downfall.

As your Commanding General, I am glad that it did not have to actually listen to the sound of your individual armors. They are good and strong. Still I must exhort all of you to keep reforging them. For integrity is something you build as a way of life, as part of the fabric of your soul.

As bared by last Friday’s rally, we are in for tougher times, times that will surely challenge our principles and press against our common stand. In view of this, my simple order echoes that of General Krulack’s: “Wear your armor of integrity… take full measure of its weight… find comfort in its protection… do not become lax. And always, remember that no one can take your integrity away from you… you and only you can give it away.”

Maraming salamat. Let’s continue flying high in service to God, country and people. Let’s continue teaming up for excellence in accomplishing the mission. Let’s go. TEAM AIR FORCE!