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ARMY HONORS SECRETARY GONZALES
FORT Bonifacio, Metro Manila - The Philippine Army will honor outgoing
Secretary of National Defense Honorable Norberto B Gonzales in a
testimonial review at the Hunters ROTC Parade Ground tomorrow, 23 June
2010 at 10 o' clock in the morning.
Secretary Gonzales assumed the defense' top post on November 16, 2009, a
very crucial time as the country anticipated the first ever automated
elections and the homestretch of the AFP's Internal Security Operations
deadline.
During his almost seven and a half month's term, Secretary Gonzales
helped ensured a peaceful, orderly and credible 2010 Elections. In the
process, he helped regain respect for the AFP as a non-partisan
institution whose role was critical during elections. Through its
conduct, the AFP demonstrated that it is a pillar of democracy and the
protector of the people.
Furthermore, Sec. Gonzales vigorously pushed for the hastening of the
process of the AFP Modernization Program and introduced an alternative
mode of acquisition that is faster and theoretically less prone to
corruption: the government-to-government negotiation, in lieu of
biddings.
Sec. Gonzales was responsible for enhancing the country's disaster
preparedness by getting the National Disaster Coordinating Council to
tap the support of barangay leaders in preventing a potential water
crisis in Metro Manila caused by this year's El Nino. He also sought to
meet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's deadline for ending the
communist insurgency by defining an end-game strategy. In doing so, he
emphasized the greater importance of political actions, involving other
sectors of society such as faith-based leaders, over military offensives
which should now be focused in certain areas where the enemy remained
militarily strong. He also expanded the Social Integration Program as an
important instrument in enticing the remaining NPAs to come back to the
folds of law. Lastly, he worked for a strong citizen's Army by
advocating the expansion of the AFP and opening it more to people. He
also approved the expansion of the reservists program and opened the
program to senior citizens.
Prior to his post as DND chief, Secretary Gonzales held sensitive and
major posts in the government such as the following: National Security
Adviser and concurrent Director General, National Security Council;
Concurrent, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Political Coalition
Affairs, Office of the President; Concurrent, Acting Officer-in-Charge,
Department of National Defense; Chief of Staff, Office of the President;
and Adviser for Special Concerns, Office of the President.
The Philippine Army manifests, through this Testimonial Review, its
respect for Secretary Gonzales for his thrusts to professionalize and
modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines and for the advocacies he
pursued during his term as the Secretary of National Defense. #
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