| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| AFPâs âmotherâ drops broad hints to the troops |
| 2003-12-19 |
| President Arroyo on Friday reminded the military that she is their âmotherâ and, more important, she raised their salaries. Hi Mom! Thanks for the allowance! Can we have some milk and cookies too? Addressing the troops Friday on the 68th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo, the President told them in Pilipino: âAs a mother of the Armed Forces, do not forget, my children, that I am the one responsible for your salary raise.â So mind your mother like a good little boy! Mrs. Arroyo acknowledged the role of the House of Representatives and the Senate in speeding up the passage of the law that increased the militaryâs salary. She appealed to Congress to speed up the passage of another law, thus assuring bigger allowances for soldiers. âAll this is to assure our people that our soldiers are well taken care of so that they can provide security to our peopleâs needs, Mrs. Arroyo has been trying to ease the growing discontent in the military following last Julyâs takeover by junior officers of an apartment building in the business center of Makati City. To this extent the muitny was sucessful in getting momâs attention. The mutinous officers criticized the administration for failing to heed the grievances of the military. The President also announced the release of P30 million to build houses for soldiers. She said the government had spent around P1 billion for supplies and combat pay for soldiers. The President commended Lt. Col. Amin Kandra Undog, who drew up the plan that led to the capture of the Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot on December 7 in Sulu. She also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Star to Capt. Jonathan Obena, who defended a military camp in Maguindanao against an assault by Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels three years ago. Better late then never I guess. The President said Obena, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class â95 or the batch the July 27 mutineers came from, should serve as an example to his class and the rest of the Armed Forces. Mrs. Arroyo also saluted the soldiers who held their ground in the face of a fierce attack by MILF guerrillas in Maguindanao earlier this week. At least five soldiers were killed and nine others were wounded Monday night when the rebels ambushed soldiers who were pursuing Pentagon Gang members in Gawang village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao. The government and the milf have declared a cease-fire in preparation for the resumption of peace negotiations in January. And to allow the MILF to reload and resupply. The Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities signed a cease-fire on Tuesday night to stop the fighting in Maguindanao. Abaya, who flew Wednesday to Maguindanao with other top military officials for a close look at the situation there, said the signing of the agreement between the military and the milf has defused the tension. Abaya said that to avoid misencounters with the milf, the milf leadership has agreed to temporarily move its forces out of the militaryâs area of operation |
| Posted by:CrazyFool |