Cadet schools teams could perform regular silent drills – AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday said it was complying with the President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to have regular silent drills to honor Jose Rizal and the nation by having the country's different cadet schools perform the drills in rotation.

"The contingent of [seven] competing teams is comprised by academy cadets and students of officer candidate schools. Except for the midshipmen and midshipwomen of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, all are training for commissionship as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And as such, the Silent Drill Teams’ performances could be had on a regular rotation basis," said AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo in a statement.

Duterte issued his order at the first Presidential Silent Drill Competition held at Manila’s Quirino Grandstand, near the Rizal Monument on Friday.

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Philippine Army Officer Candidate School (PAOCS), Philippine Navy Officer Candidate School (PNOCS), Philippine Air Force Candidate School (PAFOCS), and Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) participated in the competition.

The Philippine Military Academy won the silent drill competition. — Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News