Proving one’s worth

(Published in Zamboanga Today on February 14, 2008.)

“I don’t agree with the sweeping generalization. In fairness, we have many soldierswho got promoted out of merit.”

This was the immediate pronouncement of Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano to a remark made by Zamboanga City reporter Jun Feliciano that the Philippine military is “highly politicized”.

“We have many officers who rose from the hierarchy due to merit. I’ve been in the service for the past 35 years…and I’ve seen how the Armed Forces evolved,” Yano added.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga of the Philippine Marines, Yano’s classmate in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976 and his squadmate under Police Chief Sr. Supt. Avelino Razon, stressed that the Philippine Army chief is known to be always “aspiring for excellence…He always was for hard work, and is always in pursuit of excellence. He is very professional.”

It was on February 8 this year when Yano visited Task Force Zamboanga at its headquarters in Camp Arturo Enrile in Malagutay, this city.

“Zamboanga City is close to my heart; malapit ito sa puso ko,” Yano said, as he briefly reminisced his days as commander of the Task Force Zamboanga when he was still a Colonel in 2001.

Addressing the soldiers, Yano reminded, “Unlike other professions, ang puhunan ay laway; sa ating mga sundalo, ang puhunan ay buhay (investment is saliva; to us soldiers, investment is our own lives).”

He reminded the soldiers of President Gloria Arroyo’s marching orders as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which are to “defeat the communist insurgency and neutralize the Abu Sayyaf Group.”

“As the commanding general of the Philippine Army, I am your force provider…We’re not a rich country but we can provide the basic needs of the Army. Ang pinaglalaban natin ay para sa ating bansa,” he said.

“We cannot move forward unless we end communist insurgency. We’ve been fighting this for the past forty years,” Yano said.

As Yano reminded the Zamboanga-based Army to be always motivated to work, he urged them to “believe in the cause you’re fighting for…for your country, family, and not for yourself.”

“Prove your worth,” he challenged the soldiers. “Merit should be a premium. Ipakita mo ang kakayahan mo. The government has no obligation to promote you because you’re old, and served long. If you’re qualified and competent, you get what you deserve.” Yano also brought smiles to some when he discouraged the soldiers to seek the assistance of ‘godfathers’ and claim privileges of “GSC”, or of having Governors, Senators, and Congressmen as ‘godfathers’.

“We’re a volunteer army. Walang pilitan ditto. If discontented, then go through the process. File the necessary papers. But while we’re in the organization, there are strict rules to follow. And we follow a chain of command,” the Army chief stressed.

“Don’t go with groups outside of the chain of command. They have their own political agenda.

“Kung may conflict sa area, that’s where the Army is,” he emphasized. “You’re here in the Army not just for lip service.”

Yano will be the Army chief until May 8. On the 9^th, he will take his oath as the 34^th Chief of Staff of the AFP, succeeding Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

“It’s not going to be a walk in the park,” Yano said. (Frencie L. Carreon)