UPI, GAMU, Isabela, Sept 19 — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday reminded anew the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of its Constitutional mandate to serve the people and secure the Republic.
During the Commander-in-Chief’s time with the Star Troopers of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division at Camp Melchor F. De la Cruz here, the President strongly declared, “Do not allow our country to disintegrate,” referring to the problems on drugs, corruption, and criminality which affects the length and breadth of the nation.
President Duterte described the country’s situation like an airplane taking off on the runway but cannot rise, which is likened to the nation beset with problems, especially drugs.
In fighting the “war” on drugs, the Commander-in-Chief stressed: “I will protect you. I will not allow one policeman or one military to go to jail for doing his duty,” as he repeated that he will go to jail for them. Duterte called on the AFP to be well trained, to re-orient and re-invent themselves to be good intelligence operatives against the threat of urban terrorism which he said will be a long fight.
Furthermore, in his talk to the Star Troopers, he announced that he is giving up his presidential planes to be used as air ambulances. He also said that under the government’s peace initiatives, the ongoing talks with the communists is “doing well.” (PCO)