Assumption speech of  LTGEN ARTURO B ORTIZ AFP As the 53rd Commanding General , Philippine Army Change Of Command Ceremony, Philippine Army HPA Grandstand Fort Andres Bonifacio Metro Manila 231000H July 2010 (APPROPRIATE GREETINGS) [TROOP COMMANDER, MAJOR GENERAL SEALANA, KINDLY GIVE THE TROOPS TIKAS PAHINGA.] Bago ang lahat, nais kong pasalamatan si heneral Reynaldo Battung Mapagu sa mga papuring iginawad niya sa akin sa kanyang pananalita kanina. Malaking karangalan na tawaging bayani ng outgoing CGPA. Nais ko ring sabihin na lahat na iyon ay nangyari dahil na rin sa mga sundalo at cafgung bayani na kapwa kong sumuong sa panganib matupad lamang ang aming misyon. Buong kababaang loob kong tinatanggap ang pamumuno ng hukbong katihan ng pilipinas, isang napakalaking karangalan na bagama't hindi ko pinangarap at inasahan ay itinuturing kong isang hamon na hindi ko tatalikuran. Sa sandaling ito, muling nananariwa sa aking isipan ang araw na ako ay nag-report dito sa hqs, philippine army bilang isang bagong komisyon na tenyente mahigit tatlumpong taon na ang nakaraan. Mababaw lamang ang pangarap ko noon - ang pagsilbihan ang ating bayan bilang kabayaran sa apat na taong libreng edukasyon na ibinigay sa akin ng philippine military academy. Kaya ngayon, mapagpakumbaba akong maging ika - limampu't tatlong punong heneral ng ating hukbo. Ang pagdalo ngayon ng mga dating pinuno ng philippine army ay lalong nakadagdag ng pressure na aking nararamdaman na sana man lang ay mapantayan ko ang kanilang mga nagawa at kontribusyon upang marating ng army ang kinalalagyan nito ngayon. I am truly overwhelmed by the honor and prestige that goes with my position. This position also brings honor to those who touched my life as a person and as a soldier. Nais kong ibahagi ang karangalang ito sa mga taong sumusunod: Una sa lahat, sa aking pamilya, kay cynthia, ang aking maybahay, at sa aming pitong anak na lalaki. (siguro nai-imagine ninyo ang sakripisyo ni misis sa aming walo.) My deep gratitude to my wife for putting up with the heroic work of being a soldier's wife and a great mother to our seven boys. Sila ang aking tunay na inspirasyon at pinagkukunan ng lakas. Gusto ko ring ialay at ibahagi ang mga sandaling ito sa aking mga namayapang magulang, sa aking mga kapatid, kaanak, kaibigan, mga guro at schoolmates mula sa minahan ng acupan-balatoc-virac sa itogon, benguet. Ganundin sa aking mga kababayan sa Bautista, pangasinan at sa mga miyembro ng philippine military academy "MATAPAt" Class of 1979. Nais ko ring ibahagi ang karangalang ito sa aking mga naging Kumander na kung saan ay lalo akong nahubog sa magagandang aspeto ng pagka-sundalo at tamang pamumuno. (mention those present). Higit sa lahat, nais ko ring ibahagi ang karangalang ito sa lahat ng mga naging kasamahan kong pinuno at kawal sa lahat ng aking mga field assignments, na kung saan ay ginugol ko ang mga pinakamahusay at mga hindi malilimutang makasaysayan at masasayang mga araw. I consider my 6 years as team leader, 4 years as company comdr, and 2 years as bn comdr with the special forces regiment (airborne) that was spent in the major conflict areas in our country and directly serving our people in the countrysides as probably the best, the most memorable and the most fruitful years in my entire military career. And so, as i accept this position, i trust in the wisdom of higher authorities and in their belief that appointments are made based on merit and credentials built over time. In my whole military career, i can truthfully say that i have never worked for an assignment, because i personally abhor it. I continue to stand by the quote i have stated in our class yearbook at pma that "i would rather stay low brought about by my own efforts than to stay high without actually striving for it." Sa puntong ito, nais kong pasalamatan ang mga taong responsable sa aking pagkakatalaga bilang punong heneral ng philippine army. Unang-una ay sa ating mahal na pangulo at commander-in-chief, ang kagalanggalang na benigno s. Aquino iii sa kanyang pagtitiwala sa aking kakayahan. (makakaasa kayong hindi ko kayo bibiguin.) Pinasasalamatan ko rin ang dating special forces regiment at socom commander; dating punong heneral ng army; dating ambassador ng cambodia at ngayon ay kalihim ng tanggulang pambansa, ang kagalanggalang na voltaire tuvera gazmin sa pagsang-ayon sa aking designation. At sa ating chief of staff, heneral ricardo aguirre david, sa kanyang pag-indorso sa akin. I assume command at a crucial time when our nation entered a new chapter in our history. As the premier service of the afp, the army has on its shoulders a great responsibility of being at the fore front in our nations fight against forces that threaten our people's aspirations for peace and continue to impede the full realization of our nation's goals. As an organization, we are challenged to lead and succeed against these forces. We are expected to face the challenge with the confidence that each and every army soldier is committed to make a difference, committed to serve our country, committed to perform every task and mission without fail and fulfilling them without reservation, even if doing so would mean their ultimate personal sacrifice. I am committed to deliver on this expectation, as i expect commitment from every subordinate commander, down to every soldier. Upang maisakatuparan ito, nais kong banggitin ang ilan sa pamantayan ng aking pamumuno: Una, malinaw dapat kung ano ang ating katayuan bilang isang pwersang may kakayanang magpatupad ng batas. Wala dapat alinlangan na ang army ay para sa constitutional democracy. Bawat kawal ay dapat maging tagapagtanggol ng konstitusyon. Dapat tayong sumunod sa mga legal na utos ng ating mga nahalal na pinuno. Dapat tayong sumunod sa chain of command. Dapat manatili tayong propesyonal. At dapat manatili tayong tapat sa ating mga gawain at katungkulan. Pangalawa, hindi natin titigilan ang pagsugpo sa mga elementong nagnanais maghasik ng kaguluhan sa ating bansa. We will go after all armed groups that threaten our people and our democratic way of life. We will do this while recognizing and respecting the peace initiatives of our government. At sa pagtupad sa ating tungkulin, lagi nating igagalang at poprotektahan ang karapatang pantao at pilit na iiwasan ang collateral damage. Isang malaking hamon sa atin ang kakulangan ng pondo para tustusan ang lahat ng ating gawain. Pipilitin nating tumbasan ang tapang ng ating kasundaluhan ng kaukulang kagamitan upang masiguro na kanilang magagampanan ang kanilang gawain at masiguro ang kanilang tagumpay. Those logistics shall be pushed forward to the frontlines. All available assets, equipment, and other material support will be prioritized to our field units. Programs must lead to better armaments, force protection, mobility, communication, night fighting capability, medical attention, and emergency support. As mentioned by no less than our president, we will strive to give our soldiers every tool and resources available that will help them defeat the enemy. Certainly, the most valuable resource that we shall rationalize and maximize is our manpower. The assignment of our personnel must be made in favor of our line units or where the action is. We will ensure the enhancement of our morale and welfare services, such as our field station hospitals and trauma centers to increase the survivability of our casualties. We will save their lives and limbs, no matter what the cost may be. I will demand quality leadership among our commanders, and those that cannot make the grade must give way to those that can deliver. Commanders will be carefully selected based on character, competence, track record, and capacity to deliver more. They must set the example and must spend most of their time and attention with their men in the field, sharing their risks and difficulties and closely supervising their actions. They must also demonstrate a high level of moral and ethical standard that their men will emulate. This will inspire their men, make them take the extra step and walk the extra mile, all for the accomplishment of their mission. Finally, the military justice system must continue to work for the benefit of everybody. Those who will violate the articles of war and other pertinent laws of the land will be punished in accordance with the law. Mga kasama, napakarami ang ating gagawin, subalit kakayanin natin ito basta't tayo'y magtutulong tulong. At habang pinagmamasdan ko ang mga tropang nakahanay ngayon dito sa ating harapan, at habang naiisip ko rin ang mga libu-libo pang kasundaluhan na nakatalaga sa lahat ng panig ng kapuluan, hindi ko maitatanggi na kayo ang aking magiging inspirasyon sa aking pagganap sa bago kong tungkulin. Hinding hindi ko kayo bibiguin. Tinatanggap ko ang pamumuno ng philippine army mula kay general reynaldo mapagu na aking nakasama sa maraming pagkakataon gaya na lang ng kami ay parehong commander ng units sa ilalim ng socom - ako bilang commander ng special forces regiment (Airborne) at siya bilang commander ng first scout ranger regiment. At tunay na hindi matatawaran ang kanyang kakayanan at reputasyon bilang kawal at pinuno. Beneath his subdued and simple personality lies his professional competence and effective leadership. And if there is one quality that stands out in him, it is his being a true professional, a real officer and a real gentleman. Certainly, i will endeavor to approximate his achievements... general mapagu sir, i wish you all the best in your elevation as afp vice chief of staff. Sa lahat ng pinuno, kawal at kawani ng philippine army, sisikapin kong maging karapat dapat sa inyong pagtitiwala. Kung kaya't pakumbaba kong hinihingi ang inyong buong suporta at kooperasyon upang magampanan natin ang serbisyong hinihingi sa atin ng bayan - serbisyong higit pa sa tawag ng tungkulin; serbisyong may kasamang pagmamalasakit at pagpapakumbaba; serbisyong ang tanging layunin ay katahimikan at katiwasayan ng ating bansa. Sa tulong ninyo at sa patnubay ng poong maykapal, ating makakamit ang tagumpay. To my former seniors and upperclassmen who will now take command and direction from me, i will continue to take your wise counsel as i have done so in the past. But we must all be fully aware that henceforth, i alone am responsible for what the philippine army does and fails to do. Once again with great honor and even greater humility, i would endeavor to maintain a profound consciousness of the trusteeship that was bestowed upon me. I wish to assure everyone, that as i discharge my duties and responsibilities, i will give my very best and give it all. Nais kong ipaabot muli sa ating mahal na pangulo at sa sambayanang pilipino na ang ating hukbong katihan ng pilipinas ay mananatiling matapat sa ating sinumpaan na tungkulin. Finally i thank god, the almighty, for this blessing. For without him we are nothing. Maraming salamat. Mabuhay ang philippine army! Mabuhay tayong lahat. -END-