House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Photo courtesy of Speaker's office)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can count on the vigorous support of the House of Representatives (HOR) in protecting the nation in compliance with a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In his speech during the HOR-AFP Fellowship at Tejeros Hall in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday night, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said it was President Marcos who reminded all the members of the House to respect, protect, and support the men and women in uniform, particularly the AFP.
“On behalf of the members of the House, we would like you all to know, the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly you, the generals and the leaders of the AFP, that we stand beside you and we shall be in strong support of you every day of your lives because our President, our Commander in Chief, has set the policy that you are the priority, the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for all the services and sacrifices you have given to the country. This is the least we can do,” he said.
“The House shall be responsive not just in the halls of the Batasan, where we move for approval of your budgets but we want you know that we always stand by you and we want to make ourselves accessible to you so that you know at any given time, your representatives will be with you and we will respect all that you have done for us and we shall uphold all the ideals and values that you cherish particularly in safeguarding the nation,” Romualdez added.
He said the camaraderie between members of the House and the military go beyond the camaraderie of sport, referring to the golf competition that preceded the fellowship.
“It reflects the unity and collective strength of the nation. As we work together, we are reminded that irrespective of our roles in the country, we are part of one team - Team Philippines,” he said. “Let this fellowship today (Wednesday) be a testament to our commitment to working together and learning from each other and to build the nation where every Filipino can strive.”
Romualdez said the golf match itself was a reminder of the essential role sportsmanship plays not just in games but in the larger arena of nation-building, as sportsmanship, at its core, is about respect, integrity and fairness.
“These are not just principles for a game, but they are the bedrock of a strong, cohesive society,” he added.
Lastly, the House leader said the HOR-AFP fellowship symbolizes the partnership between the legislature and the military, which is crucial in navigating complex challenges that the nation faces.
“Together, we can chart a course towards peace, security and prosperity,” he said. (PNA)
