Short’ DU30 message to PMA grads defended
BAGUIO City — Partido Reporma standard bearer Panfilo “Ping” Lacson defended President Duterte’s very short message to the awardees of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) during its alumni homecoming Saturday morning in Fort del Pilar here.
According to Lacson, although the 42-second message of the President was a bit surprising, he said Duterte could be thinking for the cadets who were on a snappy standing and motionless position under the heat of the sun during the entire program.
“Na-surprise lang kami, 42 seconds lang ang kanyang message, napaka iksi, siguro ayaw niya mag-suffer ang mga kadete sa init ng araw,” the presidential candidate said.
Lacson, a member of PMA Batch 71, was a recipient of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI)’s prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition to his five decades of government service.
The senator who is gunning for the top post of the land in the May 2022 polls, thanked the academy for recognizing his “dedicated service” to the country.
“Thank you Philippine Military Academy for recognizing my 50 years of dedicated service to country and people and for the arduous four years of imbibing in me the values of courage, integrity and loyalty,” he said in his speech.
When asked after the program on the President’s 42-second message, Lacson said that Duterte may just have wanted not to give the cadets much longer time in standing still.
“Ako ganun din kapag speaker ako, ang una kong iniisip kasi naging kadete ako, once na nakatayo sa arawan tapos may dala kang baril tapos nakikinig ka sa speech na pagkahaba haba.. . Kapag guest speaker ako, 10 at most 12 minutes, si Presidente kanina (Saturday), akala namin nagkaroon ng technical problem yun pala yun na ytyun inorasan namin 42 seconds,” the former top cop told reporters.
Baguio City mayor Benjie Magalong, was also a recipient of a Cavalier Award which is the highest recognition given to a PMA alumnus or alumna with outstanding achievements in their respective fields.
Magalong is a member of the PMA Batch 84.
