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PNoy reminds PMA graduates of their responsibility to protect Filipino people, secure democracy

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BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday, underscored the military’s responsibility to protect the Filipino people, secure sovereignty, and safeguard democracy.
In his speech during the graduation rites of PMA GABAY-LAYA Class of 2016, President Aquino said “civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military.”
“Gusto ko nga pong ipagdiinan ang tungkulin ng Sandatahang Lakas sa ating demokrasya, lalo pa’t ipinagdiriwang natin ang ika-30 anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power Revolution. Nangyari po sa ating kasaysayan ang isang eksperimento, kung saan minsan kayong kinasangkapan para sikilin ang demokrasya at maipatupad ang mga kapritso ng iisang pamilya,” Aquino said before 63 PMA graduates, the smallest batch since the 1960s.
The President also recalled the restoration of people’s confidence in the military under the term of his late mother and democracy icon Corazon Aquino, and boasted of military modernization projects under his own administration.
“Sa ilalim naman po ng aking ina, ibinalik ang tiwala ng mamamayan sa inyong hanay, na nangakong pagsisilbihan ang taumbayan. At sa atin sa Daang Matuwid, sama-sama nating hinubog at pinalakas ang Sandatahang Lakas upang higit ninyong magampanan ang inyong tungkulin,” he said.
Less than two months before the upcoming national elections, Aquino also urged the military to stay neutral in politics to avoid “monopoly of power.”
“Tandaan lang po natin, tanging Sandatahang Lakas lang ang may puwersa, na kung makikihalo, lalo na sa pulitika, ay may tinatawag pong ‘monopoly of power.’ Tila hindi ho parehas ang usapan, kaya importanteng nasa isip natin parating neutral tayo, lalo na pagdating sa pamumulitika,” he said.
In instances when they would feel superior over everybody else and power was corrupting them, Aquino said the PMA graduates should reassess their beliefs and principles to avoid a repeat of the “dark chapters” of the country’s history.
“Kailangan din ninyong isaalang-alang: Oras na dumating kayo sa punto na para bang kayo na lang ang tama, kayo na lang ang magaling, muli ninyong suriin ang inyong paninindigan,” Aquino said.
“Mga kasama, ang mga prinsipyong ikinintal sa inyong alaala ang magpapatatag sa inyong loob sa pagtupad ninyo sa mandatong maging mga tagapagtanggol ng inyong kapwa Pilipino. Nasa inyong mga kamay kung mamamayani ang demokrasya o kung babalik tayo sa madilim na kabanata ng pang-aabuso at kawalang hustisya; kung magiging laganap ang kapayapaan sa mga komunidad na siyang hihimok sa iba na makiisa, o kung babalik tayo sa estado ng pagdududa sa isa’t isa,” he added.

Criselda Cabangon David, a happy mother of two kids, is a full-time Sociologist at the City Government of Lucena, Quezon Province. She is currently the Managing Editor of Ang Diaryo Natin Sunday News, a weekly local community newspaper in the Philippines and an active member of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.