The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) did not push through with its scheduled 86th founding anniversary celebration on Tuesday, Dec. 21, to prioritize its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in areas that were hit by typhoon “Odette.”
Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff, ordered the deferment of the anniversary program proper, the parade of ground troops and equipment, and the fly-by of air assets at the General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City in solidarity with the Filipinos affected by the typhoon.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is celebrating its 86th Anniversary with every Filipino in our hearts and minds. In these challenging times, brought about by the devastation of Typhoon Odette and the persisting pandemic, we will forego the AFP anniversary program, parade, and fly-by in solidarity and sympathy with our kababayans and in order to not disrupt our on-going humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations,” Centino said.
“We shall celebrate while doing our jobs in the field. This is how we will honor our long history of service and tradition of sacrifice to the Filipino people. We may not be able to fully alleviate the suffering of affected families and individuals, but we hope to at least give them a sense of comfort and security in these uncertain times and in the coming holidays,” he added.
The AFP Chief also expressed his appreciation to all AFP personnel for their hard work and sacrifices. He then led the awarding of AFP offices, units, and personnel that excelled in their respective fields.
“Despite this, we will not be remiss in recognizing every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine who have put their lives on the line in the fulfillment of our mandate to protect the people and secure the state. Our snappiest salute goes to those who are in the countryside, those manning COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities, and those who are involved in disaster response operations,” Centino said.
Individual awardees were Sgt. Benedicto Maisa, the Enlisted Personnel of the Year for being “instrumental in the surrender of high-value members of the communist terrorist group (CTG)” under the 28th Infantry Battalion; Dr. Ma Gemma V. Tapnio, the Model Civilian Human Resource Supervisor of the Year for developing the vaccination plan of the Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo Station Hospital (CGEASH); and Mr. John Joseph L. Latoga, the Model Civilian Human Resource Employee of the Year for developing various military programs and systems through the AFP’s 950th Communication, Engineering, and Information Service Group.
Also recognized were C/Lt. Col. Jerome Andrew A Manlangit, of the First City Providential College, and C/Col. Sophie R Rordrigazo, of the Siliman University, as the Male and Female Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets of the Year.
Campaign Streamers were also conferred to AFP operating units that have contributed to the dismantling of the guerrilla fronts of the communist terrorist groups.
These include the 902nd Infantry Brigade and the 83rd Infantry Battalion for the dismantling of Komiteng Sangay sa Platun of Bicol Regional Party Committee; the 801st Infantry Brigade and the 87th Infantry Battalion for defeating Central Front Samar 1 and Front Committee 6; and the 802nd Infantry Brigade and the 78th Infantry Battalion for beating Front Committee South East, all in Eastern Visayas.
Lastly, the 1003rd Infantry Brigade and the 27th Infantry Battalion were also recognized for dismantling the Guerilla Front 55 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Meanwhile, the partner-stakeholders who received the Kapayapaan Plaque were businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, Chairman of the Philippine Air Force Multi-Sectoral Governance Council; Lt. Col. Darwin Sacramed (Ret.), Provincial Administrator of Cagayan; Dr. Ricman Aquino, President of Isabela State University; Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas; Hon. Joselito Ayala, Mayor of Quezon, Palawan; Western Visayas Assistant Regional State Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales;
Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane Jr.;Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto Tan Mangudadatu Al Hadj; Brylle Deeiah Tumarong, President of Youth for Peace and Development Movement; Dr. Benjamin S.A. Campomanes Jr. Medical Director at St. Luke’s Hospital, Quezon City; Cesar Canama Soriano, PTV4 broadcast journalist; Department of Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, Chairman of the COVID-19 National Vaccination Operations Center; SOAR-Deployable Response Group; and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Also awarded were AFP units and offices for advancing the AFP Transformation Roadmap Institutionalization Pathway which "drives the accomplishment of initiatives, recognize milestones, incentivize performance, and communicate hallmarks of success in their transformation strategies."
Conferred with the “Proficient Status” were AFP Accounting Center and the Office of The Judge Advocate General. Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, AFP Center for Law of Armed Conflict, and AFP Command Center all received the “Institutionalized Status.”