(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ Richard Balonglong)
BAGUIO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday told graduating members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bagsik Diwa” Class that the salvation of the country is now in their hands and the youth sector, while admitting that his administration “was constrained to adopt extreme legal measures to fight societal ills.”
“It is sad to admit that after six years, these evils hound us still though in lesser degrees of intensity,” the president said in a speech he delivered at his last commencement exercise as the Armed Forces of the Philippines commander-in-chief.
“It is in the hands of the next generation of Filipino leaders and movers where our salvation rests,” he said, in defeating corruption, red tape, illegal drugs and crimes.
“You, the Bagsik Diwa Class, belong to that generation,” he stressed after commissioning the cadets into junior officers of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force, including this year’s top cadet, newly-commissioned Navy 2Lt Krystlenn Ivany Quemado.
Composed of 49 female cadets and 165 male cadets, the “Bagsik Diwa” (Bagong Sibol sa Kinabukasan Didigma Hanggang sa Wakas) class members received their Bachelor of Science degrees in National Security Management.
The PMA said 105 will join the Army, 52 will join the Air Force, and 57 will serve in the Navy.