Arroyo praises AFP, grateful for military’s 9-year support

(Update 4 – 5:09 p.m.) Outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday bade her final farewell to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a ceremony that highlighted her nine years as the military’s commander-in-chief. President Arroyo urged the military to continue upholding the 1987 Constitution in a speech she delivered at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, after she was honored by the troops with a testimonial parade and review. "I enjoin you to carry on being soldiers of the Constitution [the way] you had been all these nine years," said the outgoing President, whose administration was threatened by three military uprisings. Mrs. Arroyo likewise acknowledged the military’s contribution to the peaceful conduct of the country’s first nationwide automated polls last month, which she said “changed the face of politics forever." In the same ceremony, President Arroyo also awarded AFP chief of staff General Delfin Bangit with the Philippine Legion of Honor for spearheading the military’s leadership during the May 10 polls. Bangit was appointed by Mrs. Arroyo on March 8 this year, a move that reportedly bypassed more senior members for the position. His appointment also emphasized his perceived closeness with the President, who is an honorary member of the Philipppine Military Academy "Makatarungan" Class of 1978, to which Bangit belongs. But Bangit, who is set to retire in July next year, may be unable to finish his term. President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has made it clear that Bangit has to go before he assumes the presidency on June 30. The announcement has set of a barrage of reactions and counter-reactions, involving, among others, former defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Aquino’s cousin and opponent during the elections. Teodoro said that Bangit should be allowed to finish his term "honorably." Arroyo announces salary hike for soldiers In her speech, Mrs. Arroyo also announced a salary increase for soldiers starting July 1 and assured troops of continued benefits until 2012. Mrs. Arroyo also lauded the military for its continued efforts in stamping out insurgency in southern Philippines. She claimed that the number of armed insurgents in the country has been halved since 2001, when she first took office. "We have narrowed the lair of terrorism in the country and [we] continue to limit insurgencies," she said during the testimonial parade and review at Camp Aguinaldo. The parade is a traditional military honor usually given to retiring officials of the Armed Forces to give them the last chance to view their troops. President Arroyo faced three major attempts by rebellious factions of the military — the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003, the February 2006 failed power grab, and the November 2007 siege of the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Among the issues raised by the AFP dissidents against Mrs. Arroyo was massive corruption in her administration and evidence of her reported cheating in the 2004 presidential elections that placed the legitimacy of her rule under question. A leader of the Magdalo group — Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV — was elected senator during the 2007 elections. Two other rebel officers — resigned officers Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Col. Ariel Querubin — failed to equal Trillanes' achievement, failing on their respective Senate bids in the last elections. Bangit all praises for Arroyo In a separate speech during the ceremony, Bangit was all praises for the outgoing commander-in-chief, describing her as "supportive" and "concerned" about soldiers. "During her tenure, she led the AFP admirably in many ways. She gave the AFP the support that it needed - additional personnel, salary increase, modernization fund for our armed forces, and even supported our stand that insurgency can be defeated not by arms alone, but by winning the hearts and minds of our people," he said in his speech. Bangit likewise commended Mrs. Arroyo’s work ethic and "dedication in matters dealing with the Armed Forces." "She was the commander-in-chief who insisted on visiting our soldiers amid too many concerns, forgetting that she, too, is a human who gets tired and needed sleep. She was the Commander-in-Chief who wanted to get things done as quickly as possible because you, our soldiers, are waiting," he said. Bangit also offered what appeared as farewell remarks to his troops. "Finished or unfinished, we go when we must. Those who would inherit this administration would have their own time to continue what was started. As professional soldiers, you will and you should obey them," he said. Bangit thanked Mrs. Arroyo toward the end of his speech, saying it has been a “pleasure" serving the country with the outgoing President as his commander-in-chief. — with Andreo Calonzo/RJAB Jr./RSJ, GMANews.TV