Silang, Cavite
March 21, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the graduation rites of the 106 cadets belonging to the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) ‘Maragtas’ Class of 2018 at the Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

‘Maragtas’ is the acronym for ‘Mga Magigiting at Responsableng Alagad ng Batas na Gagabay tungo sa Transpormasyong Alay sa Bayan’.

In his keynote address, the Commander-in-Chief discussed several points about the current undertakings of the government, including the security of Filipinos working abroad such as the ongoing talks and paper works for the protection of Filipinos in Kuwait.

The President mentioned that he, together with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, added a few requirements and other provisions to further improve and ensure the welfare of Filipinos based in Kuwait.

He also stressed that with the government’s current war against illegal drugs, crime, and corruption, he loses three or four policemen all over the country everyday. As such, he expressed his hopes that with the mere number of the ‘Maragtas’ Class of 2018, the next batches would have more enlisted cadets and officers, including members of the Moro clan in both the PNPA and the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), for the armed forces.

Relatively, he reiterated his order to the police that they should just perform their duties in accordance with the law, and that he would protect them should they face any charges filed against them. “I will finish the drug problem,” President Duterte said.

In conclusion, the Commander-in-Chief extended his congratulations to the graduates and signed a pardon for the offenses and/or violations committed by them and their underclassmen. “Remember those who kept faith in you”, he ended.

The occasion is the PNPA’s 39th commencement exercises wherein Cadet turned Police Inspector Fritz John Vallador was hailed as the class valedictorian. He is a son of a domestic helper hailing from Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

In his valedictory speech, Inspector Vallador spoke of all the hardships he underwent to get through prior to his admission to the PNPA, and expressed his gratitude to President Duterte and all the sponsors who funded their batch’s scholarship in the Academy.

“We will always be committed to serve the people at all times,” the new police officer said.

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