Gonzales extols AFP for election role

16 May 2010

“I can’t thank you enough for performing such a good job.”

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales yesterday thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines for doing a very good job in the recently conducted national and local elections, the first ever automated poll in the country.

Speaking during the Change of Command ceremony of the Philippine Navy at Naval Station Jose V. Andrada on Saturday, the defense chief lauded the efforts of the men and women in uniform for “making the last election worthy of our democracy.”

“I don’t know if the nation will see this in the future. But this much I will say as your Secretary of National Defense, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines have done the best that this nation deserve when it comes to this particular aspect of our democracy. You have made the last election worthy of our democracy,” he said. “As a citizen of this nation, I would say thank you to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

Gonzales noted that the recent election, conducted amid fears of poll failure, was “like a bit of a typhoon that we have to prepare for.”

“The whole nation had to put all their brains and hearts together just to keep this election go in a manner that would be respected by the rest of the nation and the world,” he pointed out.

“I’m very sad to think that it has to take the lives of some of our soldiers to make this election fair and conducted in a manner that is deserved by our people,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales proceeded to pay tribute to the Armed Forces. “You are today the most important pillar in our society. Keep remembering that. And we will keep reminding our people of the importance of our Armed Forces in nation building.”

“Most important, we in the Armed Forces of the Philippines should recognize that we are actually the symbol of love of country…That in our uniform rests the symbol that is the most important sentiment that will bind our people, that will give strength to the desire of our people to have a dream and to fulfill those dreams in the future,” the defense chief said.

Gonzales said he would continue to advocate the interests of the Armed Forces beyond his current stint as defense secretary.

“Let me just give you a few parting words. One, I will volunteer as the defender, as the spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines in our body politic. And two, as a spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I will keep reminding our people that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the best and the finest of our citizens, men and women.”