President Marcos administered the oath of office to 39 newly promoted officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), ordering them to be vigilant about existing and emerging threats to the country.
During the ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Monday, President Marcos emphasized the significance of the additional stars on their shoulders, reminding them of the heavier duties attached to their new ranks.
“You have a great responsibility to fulfill. There are still heavy tasks waiting for you. We still have many missions to face. And most importantly, the people we serve and the Republic we defend and love have high expectations of you,” the President said.
President Marcos highlighted the need for bold thinking and decisive action in responding to the challenges ahead. He expressed confidence in the military’s ability to effectively address these challenges.
“Be mindful always of the weight that that carries. After all, the load that you feel are in fact our people’s hopes. Especially now that we are at the juncture of our history where our nation faces complex security challenges.,” the Commander-in-Chief said.
The President urged the newly promoted officers, led by Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., to remain faithful to their sworn duties to the nation and the Filipino people.
He extended his congratulations to the newly promoted officials, emphasizing that their promotions were based on merit.
“As senior officers in our armed service, may the stars conferred upon you serve as an inspiration in performing your duties with utmost dedication, professionalism, integrity, all worthy of emulation,” he added.
Among the newly promoted AFP officials are Lt. Gen. Steve Crespillo, Maj. Gens. Arvin Lagamon, Edmundo Peralta, Allan Hambala, and others from the Philippine Army; Commodores Salvador Henry Quinto and Peter Jempsun de Guzman of the Philippine Navy; and Maj. Gen. Jesus Nelson Morales, Brig. Gens. Lloyd Cabacuñgan, Fernando Ventura, and others from the Philippine Air Force.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Additional stars mean heavier tasks, Marcos reminds newly-promoted AFP officers