Duterte to PMAers: Police your own ranks

MANILA, Philippines—”One scalawag among you can destroy or dent the image, and reputation of every PMAer.”

This was President Rodrigo Duterte’s message to alumni of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Tuesday as he urged them to help police their own ranks to preserve the integrity of the country’s premier military academy.

“It takes one fly to spoil a feast, it takes one scandal to ruin an avowed moral and ethical standard,” Duterte said during the annual membership meeting of the PMA Alumni Association, Inc.

“Make use of your moral ascendancy, police your own ranks, you owe it to the academy that nourished you. Indeed there is much you can do to help this country.”

Duterte also pointed out how PMAers were able to establish their presence almost “everywhere” and hold key government posts.

However, the President warned them how pride “if uncontrolled, can easily degenerate into arrogance, and from there the path of abuse opens.”

“That is what you should guard against. That is what you should not allow to happen,” Duterte said.

“I am confident though that steps shall be taken by you, if you have not done so yet, to address this worry,” he added.

During the ceremony, the President likewise led the awarding of the Outstanding Achievement Award to some of the notable PMAers currently holding key government positions.

Among the awardees were Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Noe Wong, former Armed Forces chief Noel Clement, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Armed Forces chief Filemon Santos, Philippine National Police chief Archie Gamboa, Philippine Army Commanding General Gilber Gapay, Air Force Commanding General Allen Paredes and Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ernesto De Leon Jr.