DAVAO CITY— President Rodrigo has again called on every member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to remain committed to their duty and work for lasting peace and sustainable development of the country.
In his message during the 84th Founding Day of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Aguinaldo on Tuesday December 17, Duterte stressed ”I am therefore asking you to remain committed in your duty as the primary force in realizing lasting peace and sustainable development across our country.”
The President again threw his unqualified support “Especially as we continue our fight to defeat terrorism and violent extremism, end insurgency, and address lingering and emerging threats to our national security.”
The Filipino people, according to Duterte will continue to count on the AFP “each one of you, to remain steadfast in your noble mission to defend our sovereignty and maintain peace in our communities and you should not fail.”
“Let us remember that today, we celebrate not only the battles won and the enemies defeated, but also the storied past of those who came before you – the men and women of the AFP who inspired you to aspire to become part of this elite organization,” Duterte added.
He also thanked the AFP for their “significant contributions not only in defending our nation from external and internal security threats, but also in humanitarian and disaster response in times of natural and man-made disasters.”
The dependability and reliability of the AFP, Duterte said, have been recently tested after the series of earthquakes that rocked Mindanao and the storm and flooding that inundated [parts] of Luzon and in some areas in the Visayas “Know that for your selfless service during these times of need, the entire nation will be grateful.”
As his administration continues to intensify efforts to eradicate the ills that still plague our society, Duterte claimed he trust that the AFP will also fight corruption within its halls through internal reforms that will not only improve the financial state of our soldiers “but also develop their character, competence and capacity to fulfill their mandate.”
