Grateful Gazmin bids farewell to AFP

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin bade farewell to the Armed Forces of the Philippines extremely thankful that they were doing their duties and responsibilities as protectors of the state.

“I have noted with satisfaction your individual and collective dedication to your duties and responsibilities and, by working closely, we have made important strides in internal security and territorial defense operations,” he said in a speech at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

The military honored the former Army chief with a testimonial parade and review for his six years of leadership of the defense department.

“Thank you for the many things that we have shared together during my six years of incumbency as defense secretary that began in July 2010 and enabled me to contribute my humble share in the accomplishment  of the mission of our defense department,” Gazmin said.

“Thank you for your deeds and sacrifices, so that our nation remains to be free, and our citizens continue to enjoy the blessings of life, freedom and liberty,” he added.

READ: Gazmin to leave DND ‘contented, pleased’

He also noted the military’s efforts in humanitarian assistance and disaster response during calamities, as well as standing watch over threats of global terrorism, and the peaceful and orderly May 9 elections.

The outgoing defense chief, who will bow out of service on Thursday, cited the efforts of President Benigno Aquino III to modernize the armed forces.

“We thank President Aquino for the release to the DND-AFP  the total amount of P65.0 billion from July 2010 to June 2016 to finance the said program for the enhancement of the capability of our armed forces,” he said.

READ: Farewell to Army: Gazmin cites P60-B upgrade

Gazmin said that under Mr. Aquino’s watch, the AFP acquired various types of flying, floating and mobile air, sea and land assets’ armaments and equipment to boost its operational readiness and defense capabilities.

Acting Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda thanked Gazmin for his efforts the past six years in dealing with internal and external security.

“(With) the acquisition of much needed platforms and assets, he has led the Department of National Defense into pursuit of international defense and security that ushered an era of enhanced bilateral and multilateral defense to negotiate with our neighbors in the ASEAN and with global defense community,” he said.

He also cited Gazmin’s efforts to promote internal peace. CDG/rga