PMA cadets urged to honor fallen soldiers

Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets were urged Saturday to pay tribute to 19 of their fallen comrades by continuing to fight for peace. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. made the call at the 113th Foundation Day of the PMA, even as he said the government works to equip, arm and train them. “We should also remember that there is no greater tribute to our brave heroes than by fighting for what they themselves fought for: to win the peace. Peace with principle, peace with honor, peace without sacrificing our sovereignty," Ochoa said, according to a Malacañang statement. "(I)t is to honor their memory by being true to the values they lived and died for: courage, integrity and loyalty—the three words that all PMA cadets and alumni live by," he added. Two of the 19 slain soldiers were PMA alumni: 2Lt. Jose Delfin Keh and 1Lt. Valdimir Maninang, who along with members of the Army’s Special Forces, died after a nine-hour clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Al-Barka, Basilan. Ochoa said the government's goal has always been peace "because history has taught us no country has ever benefited from long drawn-out internal conflicts." "I know many of you knew the two brave heroes who gave their lives in Basilan, and it is only right that we mourn those who have passed on," he said. He lauded the men and women in uniform who graduate from the PMA and those who enlist with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their sacrifices to ensure the security and safety of the people. Despite the risks, he noted many young Filipinos aspire to enter the PMA and serve the nation. The PMA has produced over 7,000 officers, including 45 graduates from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and the United States. In 2011 alone, 16,000 individuals aspired to enter the academy, but over 6,000 were allowed to take the entrance exams. Only 1,000 passed and qualified for the physical examinations, and only 200 will be accepted to begin their cadetship in April 2012. Strengthening the PMA To strengthen its reputation as a premier military training institution, several projects and programs are in various stages of implementation to keep in step with the demands of the times. According to Ochoa, the dramatic change in character and conduct of warfare and the rise of terrorism as a serious global threat only underscore the need for officers and troops to develop a world view that will enable them to comprehend the nuances of the law, statecraft, diplomacy and intelligence. “Aside from addressing the issues concerning modern combat, the academy must also prepare its graduates for duties that do not involve warfare," Ochoa said. He said these duties include like in disaster response operations and mitigation. Ochoa assured the PMA of President Benigno Aquino III's support, saying Aquino recognizes the valuable role of the academy in efforts to ensure security, justice and peace. Ochoa said one of these key initiatives is the proposed legislation to extend the AFP Modernization Act until 2025. This calls for the acquisition of Air Force, Navy and Army equipment and material, to boost the capability of the Armed Forces to repel threats within and outside the Philippines borders. It also authorizes the Department of National Defense and the AFP to sell, lease and forge joint venture agreements involving defense real properties, and to enter into public-private partnerships to raise the funding requirements for the military modernization program. “In short, your government wants to put all of you—those who are now in our Armed Forces and those of you who will soon join them—in a position to successfully fulfill your duties and responsibilities to flag and country," said Ochoa, who also chairs the Cabinet cluster on security, justice and peace. — ELR, GMA News