Rody to PMA: Uphold discipline, civility
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – President Duterte yesterday told members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) community to continue upholding the values of the institution.
According to Duterte, he is proud to be an adopted member of “Dimasupil” PMA Class 1967 because despite his flaws, the PMA – an institution which trains and develops graduates with character and skill – still made him an honorary member.
“That is why I appreciate the PMA. You have the template of discipline and civility. I ask that you continue this tradition and thank you for inviting me to be part of you,” he said.
Duterte became an adopted
member of the Dimasupil Class of 1967 back in 1994. He became an honorary member of the PMA Alumni Association, Inc., (PMAAAI) on December 14, 2016, but was only made official yesterday.
“I am an adopted ‘Dimasupil’ Class of 1967. That is already an honor enough but to be formally adopted by the Philippine Military Academy Alumni is a double honor in my case,” he said.
He added that his long and harmonious relationship with PMAAAI is anything but politics.
According to Duterte, he is still uncomfortable about receiving awards and recognition for doing the things he is supposed to do.
No coup Meanwhile, General Eduardo Año, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), denied insinuations of a brewing coup d’etat in the military that stemmed from the declaration of support of the graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to President Duterte.
Año said they have not received any report of any destabilization plots in the military, stressing that what they are focusing on right now is the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in the Mindanao.
“The whole Armed Forces is solid behind the President. Regarding dissatisfaction and other forms of destabilization, we have not monitored anything,” said Año.
During yesterday’s annual PMA Alumni Homecoming in Baguio City, its alumni association declared full support to President Duterte.
This triggered rumors of unrest since declaration of support of the PMA graduates to a President is rare, what with other issues of the release of top communist rebel leaders and the unfulfilled promise of doubling the salary of soldiers.
Ano, however, was quick to dismiss the alleged rumors, saying that the military is currently very busy in dealing with internal threats, including the intensified attacks of the communist rebels after the peace negotiation bogged down anew.
“So far, we can say there’s no such thing in the AFP,” said Año. (With a report from Aaron B. Recuenco)