November 28, 2002, Manila Bulletin, Our Duty to time, [Relinquishment of Command Address of General Benjamin Defensor Jr.]

(Relinquishment of Command Address of General Benjamin Defensor Jr., Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, 28 November 2002.)

THERE comes a time when everything seems finished. That will be the beginning:

Before I hand over today the symbolic Kalis of command, allow me to thank our President and CommanderinChief, for the extra days, which enabled me to complete my final tasks as Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Sounds of '69

In between those tasks was the successful staging of the "Sounds of '69" concert last Sunday at the AFP Theatre, the first musical concert ever staged by the military in the Philippines, starred in by the premier military and police commanders and performers, my classmates: Generals Greg Camiling, Jimmy De los Santos, Tom Lantion, Larry Mendoza, Rey Berroya, and Senator Loren Legarda.

I have always dreamed of capping my career on a sparkling note, and that concert literally expressed it. The noteworthy thing was that as we performed, the traffic stopped, the media tuned in, our President listened, and there was no coup.

We performed to a full house and standing ovation - and I was told it had nothing to do with my being the Chief of Staff. Of course, I believed that. After all, we, the members of PMA Class of '69, had worked so hard as we had always done in our military lives eight days a week just to attain success. Our ladies even told us that we shone like a flame that burned so bright not only through the night, but constantly.

Now I'm glad I won't be out of job after my retirement today. So first things first: please place your orders now to avail of our recorded CDs, for they are now considered collector's items. Any other rendition of our songs is considered pirated.

Other tasks

But for this very special occasion, I have to put aside my artistic pretensions, and say that, with the additional ten days, I found enough time to meet our soldiers over the land.

To the last day of my service, I emphasized my tactics: a continuously changing attacking style, the essence of my First Force strategy.

I completed the assignment of the key commanders of the Armed Forces to their appropriate posts, as recommended by the Board of Generals.

I had the pleasure to set in motion a housing project for many of our soldiers in Tarlac, my other home province, as initiated by Senator Magsaysay, Secretary Reyes, and Governor Yap.

I was even able to kick off the annual AFP-PNP Olympics, which fittingly reminded me that the baton - like the sword of command - must be passed on without breaking the stride.

Also I had the happiness of seeing the colors of our Church here in Camp Aguinaldo transformed to reflect the true colors of the churches in Rome. I told my successor that if he wants to be as blessed as I was in my stint, he should have it airconditioned. Knowing his penchant for wellness and wellbeing, his smile means yes.

I was able to wrap up a number of tasks and even earned additional moments with the media. Truly, it is amazing how we often seem to do more with less time left. But the truth is, these things are not new to me.

Breakthroughs

When I became the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces last 10 September, it did not matter that I was given 69 days or 79 days; what mattered was I made each of those 79 days count. Today, allow me therefore the privilege to report on what your AFP has done.

Over these past two months, we've hastened the fall or conversion of the enemy through proactive offensives, through a buzz phrase called Gordian Knot.

We overran no less than five NPA camps in eight provinces, including the biggest NPA enclave so far in the Sierra Madre mountains, that served as the strategic nerve center for rebel operations in Northern and Central Luzon.

We effected the surrender of over 170 NPA regulars and sympathizers, 150 of whom were received by no less than our President in this year's single biggest exodus of our prodigal brothers and sisters from the "promised land of communism."

Likewise, we caused and accepted the return of over 300 MILF rebels, the biggest group this year, with their high-powered firearms, in Marawi last month.

We preempted a major crisis by destroying a major MILF camp (second in size to Camp Abubakar) in Sultan Gumander, Lanao. The camp, yielded war supplies, communication equipment and running trenches.

And we have kept the Abu Sayyaf on the run and out of their next fortunes.

Equally important, we stemmed a new wave of terror attacks in the metropolis, by timely intercepting Abdulmukim Edris, the leading Abu Sayyaf bomber, trained by foreign terrorists, and believed to be responsible for the deadly blasts in Zamboanga last October.

Moreover, we've strengthened the nation's defenses against terror with a great degree of success, through new arrangements and joint operations not only with the PNP and other agencies, but more crucially, with our foreign partners and allies. I was able to convince my counterparts, the Chiefs of the Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific region that there is a need to increase coordination and intelligence exchange to make our areas unfriendly to terrorists.

My friends, admittedly the report card is not lengthy; it barely saw the horizon. But let me say this: your AFP never fell short. We took the full measure of time, and we delivered as required and expected.

Lulled by time

I emphasize time today because a few decades back, we were taken up in the cloud that ours was probably one of the best and strongest military in our part of the world. We had the most modern fighters, our army tanks were incomparable, our ships were fit for storms.

Because of the sheer number of our assets and extensive support systems, we repulsed wave after secessionist wave or communist tide of error. Many of today's Generals with whom I shared memories and traces of energy and daring can attest to this. These memories have become sweeter through the ages just like wine.

Having survived the raging 70s, we were slow to renew and refocus - even as our neighbors started to modernize, and our traditional enemies began to exploit the media, and weaken our social institutions.

Today, trooped out beside our neighbors' submarines and satellites and fifth-generation fighters, we are sobered to find ourselves with more to contend with, but less to defend with. And the threat has changed.

Today's threat

In the past, the challenge to our government took the form of clenched fists and placards. Today it hides within handshakes and shopping bags. It ticks away inside vans and, according to new reports, even children's toys.

Yesterday, the threat appeared in the open, in public protests with political agenda. Today it is shrouded in secrecy, and smolders with hate and nothing else.

Yesterday, too, the threat came with the juramentados, going berserk before military camps and positions. Today it's in the silent calculated approach of the suicide bomber, in markets, buses and shopping malls filled with innocent women and children.

And so today we see the buildup of alliances. Again we hear the trumpet call. Gain we're asked to stay vigilant for all possible attacks. And again we're made to scramble to meet this new challenge. And our people ask: with what? Of course, the answer should be, with better ??? ????

Modernization dream

I know this kind of answer would have its time of reckoning. And I know that to a great extent our saving grace was in modernization, particularly airpower application. It wasn't because I am from the Air Force. It was because the future simply is way up there in the skies. But almost a decade has passed since RA 7898 was signed into law. More than 100 hectares of primetime military real estate have been "surrendered in the name of fast-tracking the effort. More than one-fifth of our hardware have gone beyond economic repair. But our moment in time has yet to arrive.

Strong AFP

Having crusaded for so long to get us off the ground, let me release my ripple of hope, hoping to build a current of faith: We need a strong AFP to build the strong republic. And a strong AFP cannot be built on undercharged artillery, soft armor, or slow-moving intelligence. A strong AFP cannot stand on a painstaking army, restrained navy, or challenged air force. A strong AFP, I say again, is a modern AFP.

In addition, a strong AFP cannot and should not deliver through its platforms alone - but with public support, media attention, government assistance, and help from our allies.

Thirty years have passed since I flew out of the valleys of fire and the shadows of death, and felt the need to create change. Just a few days ago, I flew still the same helicopters, much fewer in numbers now, but still flown with courage and hope and great skill by our airmen.

I see the same old Kennedy jeeps and vehicles we committed to battle before, the same old ships, and the same communication equipment are still operated by our soldiers and sailors even as I speak.

Our duty to time

My friends and comrades, as members of the military we have our duty to our country and people. But I say we also have a duty to time, an obligation to correct the past, account for the present and claim the future. As Ecclesiastes puts it, there's a time to plant, and a time to reap what's been planted.

We owe it to our soldiers, who are the best experienced, but not the best equipped in our part of this region.

We owe it to our people, who depend on our fast response or deliberate engagement.

We owe it to our country, whose march to progress deserve less of our swords, and more of our ploughshares.

I have seen thirty-three years fly by. And I have witnessed the AFP's inexorable march through time. The truth is: there is a yearning for new hope among our soldiery our Armed Forces have been sustained by the grace of our Lord and the love of our families. In this regard, I offer my thanks to God Almighty, who has been a constant presence and guide. And I thank my wife Meg and our children - now with the great pride that their Papa was once the top soldier of the Armed Forces. I thank them for their unquestioning support and unconditional love.

Carry On

But success is not so much a gift of luck as of a lifetime of labor. And excellence never comes without a good struggle.

As I make my final touchdown, I therefore urge you all to carry on the good fight and take the more difficult path. I encourage you to give your all to the higher purpose, which is larger than life - the purpose of sacrifice, the safeguard of honor, the observance of duty in defense of our flag and country.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines remains our nation's best vanguard and shield against threat, and against uncertainty. Keep it that way by taking into account the present and preparing to embrace the future - with an attitude that seeks to conquer, a vision that seeks to answer, and a faith that never falters.

I rose to the top on those three values and I impart them today as I prepare to hand over my sword. As it were, I feel most grateful today - for the privilege and honor of having borne on my own wings the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Nation's Finest

I feel privileged to have commanded and worked with the finest officers in our land and in my time: General Dionix Santiago, a man energized by Chocovim, my Vice-Chief of Staff and successor; General Nes Carolina, my Deputy Chief of Staff; General Greg Camiling, my ever supportive classmate as far brave as when we were lieutenants 30 years ago, now the Chief of the Army; Admiral Vic Hingco, Flag-Officer-in-Command of the Navy, my abyan and kasimanwan; General Nes Santillan, my worthy successor as CG, Philippine Air Force, General Nonoy Carranza, who commanded WESCOM, another mistah who stayed the longest in the PAF; General Nars Abaya of SOUTHCOM, General Rudy Garcia of NOLCOM; General Roy Kyamko of SOLCOM; and General Jack Ligot of CENTCOM."

I feel truly blessed that at the time of great threats and dangers this year, we rose to preempt, instead of react, to events, and restore trust rather than reload ammo.

We rose faster, stronger and deadlier. And under the stress and spur of challenge, we performed well beyond limits. And someday, long after this ceremony, long after my flag had come down and the bands had stopped playing for me, may it be said that we fought the good fight and kept the faith.

I know I could not have done it alone. I am blessed to have been supported by the best people I could find, in command and in staff. And so today I return the salute and the full honors. There were hard hours in our journey and many times we flew against the headwind. But we kept our bearing and altitude. You gave me your help and, much more, you gave me your songs and your hearts. I have been blessed with golden friends.

To you I have listened and learned, both in dark weather and bright days. I am now a part of all that is the service - to quote the famous phrase: that which we are, we are - a gathering of heroic hearts and strong will, always moved to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

To all of you, my friends, thank you very much. My family joins me in saying: Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo. It has been a pilgrimage and a blessed voyage. Do carry on with the battlecry: One Force, One Fight, One Future. May the First Force of our Lord be with you always."