MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. rallied troops in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – Western Command (WESCOM) to continue exercising professionalism, demonstrating courage and making sacrifices in defending the Philippines as he declared the latest resupply operation in Ayungin Shoal a mission accomplished.
In his visit to WESCOM in Palawan on Sunday, the Commander-in-Chief said the troops in the ‘dangerous’ mission were able to defend the country and expressed its sovereignty without being provoked by Chinese hostilities.
“Dahil ‘yan ang talagang pinaka-importante dito. Dahil delikado ang sitwasyon at kung isa sa inyo nagkamali, o nagalit, o uminit ang ulo na may ginawa, ay magkakagulo nang husto,” the President said, referring to the latest Philippine resupply mission marred by Chinese aggressive actions.
“But you have not done any of that, you have remained professional. You have remained calm. You have remained mission-oriented. And for that we thank you for your service,” the President said.
President Marcos congratulated the troops for accomplishing the mission — to defend the country’s maritime domain and allow the citizens to exercise their sovereign rights within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines without instigating a war.
The Philippine is not in the business of instigating war, the President stressed.
The President noted that the WESCOM troops remained professional and courageous in the face of challenges posed by the hostile Chinese Coast Guard and militias during the Ayungin fracas.
A Philippine Navy personnel, Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo, even lost a finger in the incident.
“You are doing… It is nothing less than the defense of the sovereignty of the Republic, the defense of the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines. That is your mission and that is the mission that you have been able to comply with,” the President said.
“Maliwanag na maliwanag kahit gaano kahirap, kahit gaano kabigat ang trabaho na ibinibigay sa inyo ay mission accomplished pa rin kayo every time that you go out,” he added.
Medals were given to 80 WESCOM troops who participated in the Ayungin mission to recognize their extraordinary service to the government.
The President awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kampilan to Facundo for his actions during the mission. Aside from Facundo, 79 others were awarded by the President the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi.
The Order of Lapu-Lapu is awarded to government officials and personnel, as well as to private individuals, in recognition of their invaluable or extraordinary service in furtherance of the President’s campaign or advocacy. (PND)
