PA Officers’ Clubhouse, Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
March 21, 2019
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte announced the permanent termination of talks between the Government Panel and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as he graced the 122nd Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army (PA) in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
“I’d like to announce that I am no longer entertaining any interventions or maybe persuasions in this democratic state of the Republic of the Philippines. My sense is that you can maybe talk to the next president of this Republic one day,” the President said.
He urged for the focused military operations against the communist terrorist groups, alongside civil-military operations, to ‘persuade more of their members to surrender and return to the folds of law.’
Moreover, the Commander-in-Chief lauded the PA in both security and civil-military operations in the country which served as a testament to their unwavering commitment to defend the country’s democratic way of life.
“Through unrelenting efforts, you have successfully conducted more than [550,000] operations resulting in the recovery of almost 6,000 firearms, the neutralization of more than 600 families of the state… the surrender and capture and apprehension of more than 1,700 lawless elements,” he added.
With this year’s founding anniversary celebration theme, ‘122 Years of Heroism: Serving the People. Securing the Land,’ President Duterte administered the conferment of awards to selected PA personnel and civilian employees who contributed to the accomplishment of the PA’s mission. He also awarded the keys of the two (2) fully-furnished units of the newly-built housing quarters inside the Headquarters Philippine Army (HPA) to the two (2) pre-drawn winners.
“This administration will likewise continue to promote your welfare and that of your families through housing programs such as the four-storey Enlisted Personnel Condominium and the [six] unit condominium building for married senior army officers which we just completed this month. We target to complete by June another five condominium buildings for the senior army officers and their families,” President Duterte vowed.
Prior to the main program, the Commander-in-Chief was also given a briefing on the Medical Treatment Facility and the National Housing Authority (NHA) Battalion/Brigade Modular Command Facility.
“It is with gratitude that I say this to you. And with the firm commitment and solidarity in this important fight, I have no doubt that we will be able to combat those who seek to undermine the gains of our Republic. Together, let us keep our communities and our nation safe, secure and peaceful for the sake of this country and of our children and of our fellow Filipinos,” he concluded.
* * *