Duterte lauds AFP’s ‘tireless toil in times of crises’

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 18, 2022): Duterte lauds AFP’s ‘tireless toil in times of crises’ (By Lade Jean Kabagani and Priam Nepomuceno)

LAUDED. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Monday night (January 17, 2021). Duterte offered a snappy salute and thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines for their humanitarian work for the people. (Presidential photo by Roemari Lismonero)

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte lauded the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their "tireless toil during times of crises and helping their fellow Filipinos."

"I was on the ground two after the typhoon or the day after. Nakita ko yung mga sundalo at yung, (I saw the soldiers and those) Philippine Navy or Air Force -- all of them participating in the relief operations and helping the people move," Duterte said in his prerecorded Talk to the People aired on Tuesday.

Duterte commended the soldiers for sending humanitarian services to the people in trying times, on the top of their job to secure peace and order, particularly neutralizing the communist terrorist New People's Army (NPA).

"I would like to reiterate, on behalf of the people of the Philippines. I would like to commend and salute the AFP for their toil. It was really a toil to be there, helping everybody," Duterte said.

He offered a snappy salute to the soldiers in front of the key government officials physically and virtually present during the Talk to the People at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City.

"Salamat (Thank you) for all of the achievements so far that you have gathered throughout the -- it's a never-ending job for you hanggang ngayon at nagpapasalamat ang tao, ako mismo nagpapasalamat (until now and the people are thanking, even myself I'm thanking you). Keep up the good work," he said.

Duterte noted that soldiers can easily be tapped when "a lot of people are needed to be assisted and they won't say no."

"I am praising the military because they deserve it," he said.

Apart from its internal and external security defense roles, the AFP also plays a very important role in the country's ongoing efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The air, land, and sea assets of the AFP are also being used to transport medical equipment, healthcare supplies, and even Covid-19 vaccines to different regions across the country.

Currently, thousands of military doctors, nurses, and other medical auxiliary are deployed in Covid-19 treatment and quarantine facilities nationwide.

First responders

In the same briefing, AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino said military personnel were among the first responders deployed when Typhoon Odette battered a large part of the Visayas and Mindanao last December.

“Our personnel were immediately deployed to help in the prevention, mitigation, and response operations before, during, and after the typhoon to assist in the delivery and transport of relief goods, supplies, equipment, and personnel in the affected areas,” Centino told the President.

Centino said that 9,079 AFP personnel were deployed in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga, which were heavily affected by Typhoon Odette.

The military also utilized 28 naval vessels, 30 aircraft, and 769 land assets for relief and rescue missions.

A total of 522,675 kilograms of relief goods and equipment were transported by air, 4.1 million kilograms were ferried by sea, and 4.9 million kilograms were transported by land including the safe transport of 2,100 stranded individuals back to their communities with the support of its partner-stakeholders from private aviation and shipping companies.

The AFP also assisted other government agencies in the delivery of basic services and private utility companies in the restoration of power and water supplies in the affected communities. “

"With the activation of the AFP Civil-Military Coordination Center, we received and facilitated over 8 million kilos of relief goods from 460 donors,” Centino said.

The AFP chief added that newly acquired assets were utilized in the transport, rapid damage assessment, evacuation, and clearing operations.

These include missile-frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) of the Navy, the S-70i "Black Hawk" helicopters of the Air Force, and the KM-250 and engineering equipment of the Army.

The AFP deployed its mobile kitchen in Cebu that provided meals to 24,925 individuals and sent carpentry teams to repair damaged houses.

Meanwhile, the BRP Ang Pangulo (ACS-25), which was converted into a floating hospital, served 1,614 patients in Siargao.

“While we have increased the deployment of our personnel in typhoon-affected areas, we assure the President that we still have sufficient forces deployed in other parts of the country to perform the mandate of the AFP to secure our communities from insurgents and terrorists,” Centino said.

Centino also informed the President on the neutralization of Menandro Villanueva alias "Bok", who was the commander of National Operational Command and Secretary of Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee of the communist terrorist group.

The AFP also neutralized Narodin Hassan alias "Andot," head of the DawIah Islamiya-Hassan group, who was responsible for the recent Mindanao Star Bus bombing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165715