President Marcos urges Philippine Army to uphold integrity, strengthen public trust

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged members of the Philippine Army to continue strengthening public confidence by consistently demonstrating integrity, discipline, and professionalism in their service.

Speaking at the Army’s 129th founding anniversary on Thursday, March 19, Marcos emphasized the institution’s longstanding role as a pillar of national strength, contributing to peace, security, and inclusive development.

"To carry this momentum, I encourage the [Philippine] Army to exemplify integrity, discipline, and professionalism, as these are the bedrocks of your institution," he said in his remarks.

"You have earned the trust of the Filipino people through your steadfast service. Every day offers an opportunity to deepen and uphold that trust," he added.

The President also described the importance of balancing defense readiness with compassion in service, saying that "a forward-looking Philippine Army stands firm in defense while remaining compassionate in the fulfillment of your duty."

He called on the Army to sustain its progress in internal security operations and to strengthen coordination with law enforcement agencies in addressing evolving threats.

"The demands of our time call for a force that is agile, effective, and prepared to safeguard our nation across new and evolving domains—from our maritime frontiers to the digital space," Marcos said.

To support this, Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines while advancing grassroots peace-building efforts rooted in dialogue, trust, and inclusive growth.

"Our commitment to national defense remains firm," Marcos said.

As Commander-in-Chief, he noted that the Department of National Defense and the AFP continue to monitor developments to ensure sustained gains in addressing internal security challenges.

He also cited the contributions of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in fostering stability through initiatives such as the Barangay Development Program.

Marcos further highlighted the government’s push to enhance external defense through the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which aims to guide the Army’s gradual shift from internal to external security operations.

The President pointed to ongoing efforts to improve military preparedness, including the annual Combined Arms Training Exercise “Katihan” and joint exercises involving the AFP, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard to strengthen interoperability and rapid response.

He also commended the Army’s recent recognitions, including being the only uniformed service awarded under the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s Report Card Survey Awards 2.0 and receiving a Bronze Award from the Civil Service Commission for excellence in human resource management.

Marcos likewise underscored the military’s collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology in developing the Control-Operated Battle-Ready Armament (Project C.O.B.R.A.), describing it as a step toward boosting the country’s self-reliant defense capability and strengthening the local defense industry.

-Paraluman News