PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday said his administration had tried to address “society’s ills” like corruption and criminality but as it succeeded only in reducing these in the last six years, the next generation including new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will have to find solutions.
The President made the call as he addressed the commencement exercise of the PMA’s Bagsik Diwa (Bagong Sibol Kinabukasan Didigma Hanggang sa Wakas) Class of 2022 in Baguio City.
“My administration was constrained to adopt extreme legal measures to fight society’s ills at the start of my term. Sad to admit, after six years, these ills hound us still, though to a lesser degree of intensity,” he said during the last PMA graduation rites he was attending as president.
“Corruption, red tape, and illegal drugs, and crime and criminality are the wrongs that we need to correct. I guess it is in the hands of the next generation of Filipino leaders and movers where our salvation rests. You, the Bagsik Diwa Class of 2022 belong to that generation,” he added.
Duterte, during the campaign in 2016, vowed to solve the problem of trade and use of illegal drugs in three-to-six- months after assuming the presidency but extended his deadline to a year and later to the end of his term.
He later said he just plans to reduce the gravity of the problem after disclosing he did not know its magnitude until he became president. He also said he based his self-imposed deadline on the Davao City experience instead of the whole country.
CHALLENGES
The PMA class valedictorian urged her classmates to contribute to address the country’s problems.
“Our nation has been facing various challenges and difficulties. Now is our time to offer our contributions,” said Cadet First Class Krystlenn Quemado during the graduation of the 214-member class.
“As we are commissioned into the Armed Forces of the Philippines, may each and every one of us never get tired of working in our own small ways for the betterment of our people and our country,” said Quemado.
The new graduates were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army and Air Force and ensigns in the Navy.
“In the face of any coming adversities, I hope we will not fail to rise to the occasion and be the selfless men and women of service we ought to be,” said the 21-year-old Quemado, the seventh female to top a PMA class since the academy began accepting female cadets in 1993.
She is the daughter of Col. Nicolas Quemado, Army Inspector General and a member of the PMA Class 1993, and Dr. Loveleih Quemado, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the Notre Dame of Marbel University.
“To my mistah (classmates), as we continue our stories outside the academy, may the next chapters of our lives be filled with the true meaning of courage, integrity, and loyalty. May we continue to unravel our greater potentials, soar to greater heights, and keep the
Bagong Sibol sa Kinabukasan-Didigma Hanggang Wakas or Bagsik -Diwa spirit burning in our hearts,” said Quemado.
RESPONSIBILITY
The President told the PMA graduates it is part of their responsibility to uphold, protect and secure people’s rights, lives and properties and expressed belief the military school has prepared them well for any eventuality.
“Today, the man in uniform must be many things at the same time if he is to be relevant to the changing times. He must be both a warrior and a peacemaker; an arms-bearer and a pencil pusher; skilled in the art of war and adept as a lifesaver; an offensive machine and a fierce defender; a tribune and a diplomat; a soldier and a civil servant,” he said.
This year’s PMA class is composed of 165 males and 49 females. Nearly half or 104 of the class members are joining the Army, 57 (including Quemado) will be with the Navy, and 53 will join the Air Force.
Quemado said the Armed Forces cannot address the country’s problems alone. “What we (everyone) can do is nothing compared to what we can do together,” she said.
