Duterte skips last PMA alumni homecoming under his term

BAGUIO CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday skipped the last Philippine Military Academy Alumni (PMA) Homecoming under his term.

The commander-in-chief was represented by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who also graduated from the premier military academy as part of the Maagap Class of 1973.

“My warmest greetings to the alumni of PMA on the occasion of your homecoming. I acknowledge the many efforts of the alumni of the PMA in protecting the Filipino people from various threats to our peace and security,” Duterte said in a taped video.

“I am certain that every batch has a heroic achievement to be proud of, for which I commend you. May you enjoy this fair occasion and derive from it a renewed sense of patriotism and passion to serve. I wish you a meaningful and memorable event,” he added.

Acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles has yet to reply to GMA News Online's request for comment on Duterte's absence from the PMA event.

During the event, four cavaliers were also conferred by the PMA Alumni Association, Inc. with Lifetime Achievement Awards, namely: Anselmo Avelino Jr. of Class ’67, Melchor Rosales of Class '68; Edgar Aglipay of Class '71, and Senator Panfilo Lacson of Class '71.

The following PMA alumni were also conferred with cavalier awards by the PMAAI led by its chairman and CEO Cavalier Amado T. Espino, who was also the class president of PMA Class of 1972:

• Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Class ’82 for Outstanding Accomplishment in Public Administration
• Cavalier Crispiniano Acosta of Class ’82 for Outstanding Accomplishments In Private Enterprise
• Cavalier Erwin Rommel Luga of Class ’82 for Outstanding Accomplishments In Special Field Of (Religion-Other Endeavor)
• Cavalier Edgardo De Leon of Class ’88 for Outstanding Performance In Staff Functions
• Cavalier Michael Ray Aquino of Class ’88 for Outstanding Contributions To Alumni Affairs
• Cavalier William Gonzales of Class ’89 for Outstanding Performance In Command Administration
• Cavalier Leo Francisco of Class ’92 for Outstanding Performance In Police Operations
• Cavalier Roy Echeverria of Class ’93 for Outstanding Performance In Coast Guard Operations
• Cavalier Melvin Banua of Class ’97 for Outstanding Performance In Air Operations (Senior Officer)
• Cavalier Herbert Dilag of Class ’98 for Outstanding Performance In Special Operations
• Cavalier Ashley Nastor of Class 2000 for Outstanding Performance In Naval Operations (Senior Operation)
• Cavalier Gladiuz Calilan of Class ’01 for Outstanding Performance In Army Operations.
• Cavalier Mark Paul Mendoza of Class ’06 for Outstanding Performance In Air Operations (Junior Officer)
• Cavalier Junrey Sajulga of Class ’13 for Outstanding Performance In Naval Operations (Junior Officer)

In a tweet, Lacson, who is running for president in the upcoming polls, thanked the PMA for acknowledging his years in public service.

“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.

Lacson said he doesn’t think Duterte skipped the event to avoid a possible endorsement of his presidential bid.

"No, Hindi. Hindi ganon (No. It's not like that)," Lacson said in an ambush interview at Burnham Park when asked if he thought Duterte was avoiding making endorsements on such an occasion.

Although he admitted that he was “surprised” by Duterte’s short message to the PMA alumni, Lacson said Duterte was just being sensitive to the situation on the parade grounds.

“Even beforehand talagang magzu-Zoom lang s’ya. Ang na-surprise lang kami 42 seconds lang ang kanyang message napakaiksi. Siguro ayaw nya mag-suffer ang mga kadete sa init ng araw,” he said.

(Even beforehand, it was expected that he would join via Zoom. We were just surprised that his video message lasted only 42 seconds. He may not have wanted the cadets to suffer due to the heat.)

“Talagang iniiksian niya ang speech niya kasi alam niya ang situation sa parade ground dahil mainit… Very sensitive sa sitwasyon ng ibang tao kaya siguro iniiksian niya ang kanyang mensahe,” he added.

(He planned to keep his remarks brief because he was aware of the sweltering conditions on the parade grounds. He was sensitive to the situations of other people. Perhaps this is why he kept his message short.)

Meanwhile, Magalong clarified that he did not endorse vice presidential candidate and Senator Francis Pangilinan after he was seen in photos raising the hand of the lawmaker.

Magalong said he was asked by one of the city councilors to take photos with Pangilinan while raising his hands.

“I was placed on the spot… Dapat magpa-papicture lang kami pero sabi ng isang councilor ko na ‘Sir, baka pwede niyo itaas ang kamay.’ So I was placed on the spot alangan namang sabihin ko ‘Ay hindi,’” the mayor told reporters.

(We were just supposed to take a photo, but one of our councilors asked me to raise my hands. So I was put on the spot because I could not reject their request.)

The photo was taken before he openly endorsed Lacson and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday.

“Out of respect to Senator Kiko, kasi (because) we worked together naman, e itinaas ko [ang kamay] pero in-explain ko agad kay Senator Sotto yon. Tinawagan ko agad sila (I raised his hand but I explained it immediately to Senator Sotto. I called them immediately.) So I was placed on the spot,” the mayor explained.

“I am fully supporting Senator Sotto definitely and Senator Lacson. Definitely. ‘di magbabago ‘yan. Maski na ano pang alok sa akin di mababago yan because I believe in them. Naniniwala ako sa kanila e,” he added.

(Definitely, that won’t change. Regardless of their offer, that won’t change because I believe in them.)

Pangilinan went to Baguio on Friday to pay a courtesy on Magalong. —LBG/VBL, GMA News