Marcos tells PMA 2024 grads: Sacrifice for country, keep PH territory secure

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday called on the new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to sacrifice for the country in the face of threats to national territory and those who seek to divide the Filipino people.

The President made the call in his speech during the graduation ceremony of the PMA "Bagong Sinag" Class of 2024 at Fort General Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City.

Saying that the graduates have answered the call "to serve at a crucial time" in the nation's history, Marcos said, the inductees are now part of the national effort "[a]gainst intruders who have been disrespecting our territorial integrity."

"We will vigorously defend what is ours, but our conduct always guided by law and [by] our responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the community of nations," the President said.

Marcos added, "What we are facing now are a blatant disregard of internationally accepted principles and deployment of weapons of mass distraction by parties who seek to drive a wedge between a united citizenry."

"But people are not fooled. They can see through such schemes. So, these attempts to divert our attention, dissipate our energy better spent on making the country should not draw us away from the urgent tasks ahead. And that is to keep our people safe in their homes, our territory secure, our defenses against threats strong, and our democracy stable," Marcos said.

The President's call comes on the heels of media reports saying that China has issued a regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing in the South China Sea.

Marcos told the graduates that soldiering now "is no longer limited to defending territories, but to improve the lives of the people who live there." He said giving up the "simplicity and safety of civilian life," including the comforts of their own homes, is what the graduates have "signed up for" in their military career.

Efforts to destabilize the government, the President said, have been part of the birth pains in pursuing the changes sought by his administration.

"This a time of birth pains—sadly, of opportunism, blatant attempts of destabilization, and last-ditch to cling to the rapidly disappearing past. But we must be resolute. We must hold on. We cannot turn back," Marcos said.

Earlier this month, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that retired and active high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) were involved in the recruitment of members in an ouster plot against Marcos. Trillanes said that PNP officials have been trying to recruit members from the AFP.

However, Marcos has said that there has been no report that active police officials were planning to oust him from power. Those already retired from police service could be part of the plot, Marcos said, if it was indeed in motion.

A total of 278 cadets graduated from the PMA this year. Of this number, 224 are men and 54 are females.

The brightest graduates of this year's class, however, are dominated by women, landing seven of the top 10 spots.

Cadet 1st Class Jeneth Elumba, this year's valedictorian, is the seventh female to top a PMA graduating class. Elumba is a farmer's daughter who hails from Surigao City.

"Bagong Sinag" stands for "Bagong Henerasyong Gagampanan ang Tama: Serbisyo, Integridad at Nasyonalismo ang Aming Gabay," according to PMA Superintendent Lieutenant General Rowen Tolentino.

Tolentino said that "Bagong Sinag" symbolizes and promotes a new ray of hope for the Armed Forces as the PMA reaffirms its commitment to continue upholding the welfare and sovereignty of the Filipino nation. — VDV, GMA Integrated News