Newly-installed AFP chief Año: Only PHL flag will fly across our land, air, seas

Newly-installed Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Eduardo Año on Wednesday vowed to ensure that only the country's flag will fly across the land, air, and seas.

In his assumption speech as the 48th military chief and President Rodrigo Duterte's second appointee to the top AFP post, Año said the military will remain a relentless force.

"Your AFP should be a relentless force ensuring that the Philippine flag is the only flag waving and flying across our land, air, and seas," he said.

He said they will support the peaceful resolution to all ideological conflicts but they will remain to be a lethal force.

"While we are trained to fight, let us never forget as an organization that our fight will always be the fight for peace for every Filipino. The AFP has always been committed to support the government's initiative for a peaceful resolution to all ideologically-based conflicts," he said.

"But even as we uphold the respect for peace, make no mistake about it. We shall remain to be a lethal force capable of destroying any threat to our nation," he added.

He said they will not let the people cower in the face of lawlessness and terrorism.

"As your AFP, we will be unwavering and unfaltering in our pursuit of neutralizing every element that desires to inflict fear and hound innocent citizens," he said. 

He vowed to lead the AFP with a sustained and focused operations against the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and other local and foreign terrorist organizations like the Maute Group.

Año said they shall also enhance their defense engagements to effectively address the security issues such as cross border threats, terrorism, and to maintain peace and stability in the region.

He added the AFP will extend all necessary military capabilities to support the lead of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies in bringjng down drug syndicates and eradicating illegal drugs.

The new AFP chief also promised to exert extra effort to take care of the welfare and skills development of the troops. 

"They are the present, the future and the backbone of the military institution. We shall endeavor to improve our troops' operational readiness to give our soldiers a better and higher survivability for them to go to their home alive and unscathed," he said. — RSJ, GMA News