ASSUMPTION SPEECH OF LTGEN NOEL A COBALLES AFP
COMMANDING GENERAL, PHILIPPINE ARMY
22 JANUARY 2012
I WOULD HAVE NOT REACHED THIS FAR WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ME AND FROM WHOM I GATHERED MY WISDOM, STRENGTH AND COMPELLING RESOLVE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT.
TRULY, WHEN WE DELIGHT OURSELVES IN THE LORD, HE GIVES US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART… TODAY, I BRING BACK THE GLORY TO GOD. I THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HIM THROUGH SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE.
THIS POSITION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REACH WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, HAVE SUSTAINED, GUIDED, AND INSPIRED ME THROUGH THE YEARS. ALLOW ME THEN TO EXPRESS MY WHOLE HEARTED GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO THOSE WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL TO WHERE I AM TODAY.
TO OUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III, MY SINCEREST AND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR BELIEVING THAT I CAN LEAD THE PHILIPPINE ARMY.
TO THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, HONORABLE VOLTAIRE T GAZMIN, WHOM I PERSONALLY REGARD AS MY MENTOR, AND WHO IS LOOKED UPON AS A TRUE CHAMPION OF THE SOLDIERS.
GEN JESSIE D DELLOSA, OUR FORMER AFP CHIEF OF STAFF – I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THE BROTHERLY ADVICES THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.
LTGEN EMMANUEL T BAUTISTA AFP, OUR NEWLY APPOINTED AFP CHIEF OF STAFF – YOUR EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP AND WISDOM SHALL BE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US.
TO MY WIFE, LORNA WHOSE LOVE AND SUPPORT COMPLETES ME DESPITE MY SHORTCOMINGS. TO MY 4 LOVELY DAUGHTERS, SUE ANN, CAROLYN, MAE ANN AND MARIA ALEXIS – WHO ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND WHO ARE MY NUMBER 1 FANS.
TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE PHILIPPINE ARMY CHIEF IS AN HONOR; BUT WITH IT COMES THE CHALLENGE. I WOULD ADMIT THAT THIS IS A VERY DELICATE TIME TO BE THE COMMANDING GENERAL, PHILIPPINE ARMY. ESPECIALLY NOW, THAT THE MIDTERM ELECTION IS FAST APPROACHING.
FOUNDATIONS HAVE BEEN LAID FOR THE ARMY TRANSFORMATION ROADMAP; THE AFP’S INTERNAL PEACE AND SECURITY PLAN “BAYANIHAN” IS NOW STRONGLY FELT BY THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AS WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AND IS CONTINUALLY ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEADERS AND VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS; WE HAVE REACHED A LANDMARK ON THE PEACE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT IN OUR INTENT TO END ECONOMIC AND SECURITY INSTABILITY IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES. ALL OF THESE ENDEAVORS, I TAKE THE SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE PURSUIT OF MAKING OUR ASPIRATIONS A REALITY.
IN LINE WITH THE DIRECTION SET BY MY PREDECESSOR, NOW THE AFP CHIEF OF STAFF, AND OTHER FORMER ARMY COMMANDERS, I SHALL ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE INITIATIVES THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND PURSUED WITH EARNEST COMMITMENT. WITH THIS, I URGE EVERYONE TO HELP ME LEAD AN ARMY WORTHY OF OUR COUNTRYMEN’S TRUST.
IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT PHILIPPINE ARMY THRIVE ON EXCELLENCE AS WE RELENTLESSLY PERFORM OUR MANDATE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE. WITH THIS, MY LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE ON PURSUING THE COLLECTIVE VISION OF A FORMIDABLE PHILIPPINE ARMY – A WORLD-CLASS ARMY THAT IS A SOURCE OF NATIONAL PRIDE.
I SHALL ENDEAVOR TO DIRECT THE COURSE OF THE ARMY THAT IS FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING RESULTS. EVERYONE SHOULD BE PART OF THE TEAM – EVERYONE MUST DO THEIR SHARE – EVERYONE MUST ACT WITH URGENCY. THE FILIPINO PEOPLE EXPECT THAT EVERY ARMY MAN AND WOMAN MUST STRIVE TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR RESPECTIVE JOBS, HONORABLY, MORALLY, AND IN THE RIGHT WAY; FOR THAT WE MUST NEVER FAIL THEIR EXPECTATIONS.
I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY MILITARY CAREER IN THE FIELD. I KNOW THAT OUR GROUND FORCES ARE GIVEN COMFORT THROUGH THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO THEM; IT FUELS THEIR PASSION AND WILL TO STAND FIRMLY AMIDST THE RIGORS AND ADVERSITIES IN THE FRONTLINES; IT GIVES THEM STRENGTH TO UPHOLD THEIR SWORN MANDATE.
IT IS MY DESIRE THAT EACH SOLDIER – EVEN THE LOWEST PRIVATE IN THE REMOTEST DETACHMENT IS AWARE THAT THE PHILIPPINE ARMY WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM WHILE HE TAKES CARE OF THE COUNTRY’S PEACE AND SECURITY. I WILL TAKE PRIDE TO LEAD AN ARMY THAT GIVES PRIMORDIAL IMPORTANCE ON EACH SOLDIER’S CAPABILITIES THROUGH TRAINING, FORCE DEVELOPMENT, BOTH FOR HUMAN RESOURCE GROWTH AND LOGISTICAL EQUIPAGE, RE-STUDY OF COMBAT SOPS/TTPS AND RULES OF ENGAGEMENTS AND OTHER MEANS TO INCREASE THE READINESS REQUIREMENTS OF OUR TROOPS.
ILAN SA MGA NAIS NATING GAWIN AY – PALALAKASIN NATIN ANG ATING NON-COMMISIONED OFFICERS (NCOs) ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY KASAMA NA DITO ANG LEADERSHIP; ANG KAKAYANAN NA MAG-ABSORB, HUMANAP AT TUMANGGAP NG RESPONSIBILIDAD; KASUNOD NITO ANG KAKAYAHANG MANGASIWA NG TAMA UPANG MAISAKATUPARAN NG ATING MGA UNIT ANG KANILANG MISYON NG MAAYOS AT EPEKTIBO LALO NA YONG MGA NASA FRONTLINE. KAILANGAN ANG MGA ITO DAHIL ANG MGA NCOs ANG BACKBONE NG ATING HUKBO.
SISIKAPIN NATIN NA SA HANAY PA LANG NG INDIBIDUAL NA SUNDALO AY MAY KAPABILIDAD NA SILA NA MAGBIGAY NG PAUNANG LUNAS SA MGA SUGATAN. SISIGURADUHIN NATIN NA ANG ATING MGA SUNDALONG MASUSUGATAN AY MAY MAPUPUNTAHANG ARMY HOSPITAL NA KUMPLETO ANG GAMIT AT SERBISYO. PAG-AARALAN NATIN ANG SISTEMA NG SERBISYO PARA SA MGA NAULILA NG MGA YUMAONG SUNDALO UPANG MABILIS NA MAIBIGAY ANG MGA KAUKULANG BENEPISYONG LAAN SA KANI-KANILANG MGA PAMILYA.
THESE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE, WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE SURVIVABILITY AND BOOST THE MORALE OF OUR SOLDIERS; STRENGTHEN PROFESSIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM AMONG OUR RANKS.
TODAY, I DO NOT INTEND TO ELABORATE ON THE KIND OF COMMANDER I WILL BE. MY CAREER PROFILE, CHARACTER AND SERVICE RECORDS SHOW WHAT KIND OF SOLDIER I AM. TODAY, AS I SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY, I BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE AND MORE IMPORTANT TO REINVIGORATE THE PATRIOTIC ZEAL IN EVERY FILIPINO SOLDIER.
NANANALAYTAY SA BAWAT DUGO NG SUNDALONG PILIPINO ANG KABAYANIHAN, KATAPANGAN AT KATAPATAN. NASAKSIHAN NG BUONG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO ANG TATAG AT TIBAY NG ATING KASUNDALUHAN NA WALANG PAG-IIMBOT NA SUMULONG SA ANUMANG PANGANIB, MAGING ITO’Y SA PANAHON NG KALAMIDAD O SA HAMON NG DIGMAAN.
SA MGA NAGDAANG TAON, ANG ATING BANSA AT ANG HUKBONG KATIHAN NG PILIPINAS AY HUMARAP SA MARAMING PAGSUBOK, NGUNIT SA MGA ORAS NG PANGAMBA, TAYO ANG UNANG INAASAHAN AT NASASANDALAN NG ATING MGA MAMAMAYAN. ATING NAIPAPAMALAS ANG TUNAY NA KAHULUGAN NG “BAYANIHAN”. BUONG PAGMAMALAKI KONG KINIKILALA ANG BAWAT SUNDALO NG HUKBONG KATIHAN, SA INYONG MATAPAT NA PAGLILINGKOD.
TOGETHER, WE WILL BRING BACK THE GLORY ON THE SOLDIERY VALUES OF VALOR AND HONOR. I STRONGLY COMMIT TO LEAD AN ARMY THAT IS 100% LOYAL TO THE CONSTITUTION AND TO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
HAVING SAID THAT, I AM INVITING OUR PARTNERS TO JOIN US IN MAKING YOUR ARMY A DEPENDABLE & RELIABLE ORGANIZATION. WITH A SUPPORTIVE CITIZENRY, YOUR ARMY VOWS A SERVICE BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY; A SERVICE THAT EXUDES VERSATILITY TO ENHANCE OUR STRENGTH TO FULLY BOLSTER OUR MOMENTUM; AND A SERVICE OF WISDOM AND HUMILITY TO LEARN FROM OUR DEFICIENCIES. MAGAGAWA NATIN ITO, SA BAYANIHAN, WALANG IMPOSIBLE.
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY, AS I TAKE THE REIGNS OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY AND AS I COMMIT MYSELF AS YOUR 55TH COMMANDING GENERAL, I ASK EVERYONE TO MARCH WITH ME IN UNISON; FOR I AM CERTAIN THAT WITH YOUR COOPERATION AND WHOLEHEARTED DEDICATION TO YOUR SWORN DUTY, WE HAVE NO REASON TO FAIL.
MARAMING SALAMAT, MAGANDANG HAPON, MABUHAY ANG HUKBONG KATIHAN! MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT!
——————
*Credits: photo by the Office of the Army Chief Public Affairs
Army Transformation Roadmap 2028 