Noy to PMA graduates: Be neutral

BAGUIO CITY- President Aquino yesterday warned new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to be neutral and refrain from taking part in adventurism, like what their predecessors did during the administration of his mother, former president Corazon Aquino, whose term was plagued with coup attempts in the early ’90s.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines commander-in-chief cautioned the new military officers after he was struck by the 2016 batch’s preferred name: “Gabay-Laya” that somehow connotes radicalism – that of guiding people to freedom.

“Bumalik naman po sa normal ang tingin ko nang makita ko iyung totoo at kumpletong ibig sabihin ng batch name ninyo: Gintong Anak ng Bayan Alay ay Buhay para sa Kalayaan. Doon po, medyo kumalma ang ating presyon (But my blood pressure returned to normal after seeing the full meaning of your batch name),” Aquino said in his speech at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.

He reminded the 63 PMA graduates about the constitutional precept of civilian supremacy over the military, whose mandate is to protect the state and its citizens.

The chief executive also reiterated that military forces should not be swayed into partisan politics like when the armed forces served only one family, apparently referring to the regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

He then highlighted the ill effects of military adventurism in the light of this year’s 30th anniversary of the bloodless people power revolt in February 1986, which toppled the dictatorship.

Aquino made a similar call to cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy, where he was also the guest of honor in graduation ceremonies in Cavite Thursday.

Meanwhile, Baguio City and nearby areas of Benguet province became a political battleground yesterday, just like in the 2013 polls.

The Liberal Party, represented by Aquino, and rival United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, gave food and campaigned in venues just a stone’s throw away from each other.

Showing calm and civility at the PMA graduation rites Sunday morning, Aquino and Binay exchanged pleasantries and an occasional whisper while seated beside each other.

After hosting a merienda cena with the graduating class, their families, top military and PMA officials, Aquino met with local LP members and community leaders at the President Fidel Valdez Ramos multi-purpose hall, where he introduced LP presidential candidate Mar Roxas and vice presidential bet Rep. Leni Robredo.

At the nearby Baguio Convention Center, Binay met with Gov. Nestor Fongwan, Mayor Mauricio Domogan and former congressman Bernardo Vergara.

Earlier yesterday morning, Roxas campaigned with his ticket at the Baguio City public market and in La Trinidad town, where Binay also went at about the same time.

The Cordillera region has about 900,000 voters.

– With Artemio Dumlao