FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gave recognition to the Army shooters at the Malacañang Palace yesterday, December 9, for their excellence at the recently concluded ASEAN Armies Rifles Meet (AARM) 2019.
The members of the Philippine Army shooting team “Manunudla” were accompanied by the Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay and the Philippine Army Training and Doctrine Command Commander Maj. Gen. Cornelio Valencia Jr. in their courtesy call to the president.
Gapay introduced the shooting team to the president while they presented their medals and trophies from the AARM 2019. Duterte congratulated the shooters. “I give my full support to the training of the Philippine Army soldiers so they can perform their duties at the best of their abilities. For the shooters, aim to be on the top of AARM next year,” he added.
The shooters were able to bring home a total of 22 medals comprised of 7 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze this year, putting them at the second place. The 6 gold, 7 silver, and 7 bronze were from the team events, and 1 gold, 1 silver from the individual events. The competitions during the AARM include the pistol (men & women), rifle/carbine and machine gun matches.
“We will do our best and train hard to meet the expectations not only of the president but also of the Filipino people,” said Valencia.
Manunudla is a Filipino word that means shooter. The word has been chosen to symbolize the team as a way of embracing its Filipino identity while representing the country in various international events.
“With the support of the President, our soldiers will train hard to excel not only in the field of competition but in everything they do as we transform into a world-class Army,” said Gapay.#
Photo courtesy of Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)