Closing Ceremony of the National ROTC Summit (Speech) 12/20/2019

Closing Ceremony of the National Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (Rotc) Summit and the First Presidential Silent Drill Competition
Quirino Grandstand, Manila
December 20, 2019
“I feel proud of my soldiers and my policemen. And that is why I will never compromise the way of life of the Filipinos,” President Rodrigo Roa Duterte stressed when he graced the closing ceremony of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Summit and the first Presidential Silent Drill Competition held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
In his keynote address, President Duterte also shared that his visit in China inspired him to make the competition happen, as the Chinese people congregate every day to bear witness to the drill performed by different assigned units and asserted that he wanted the same to happen in the Philippines.
“I want it done every day. May magtingin man o wala, do it for the country. I want you to go into a sort of an activity to honor Rizal at ang ating bayan. Do it and I order it every day. It will be spearheaded by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and those who’d like to participate,” the President said.
The President lauded the winners of the competition, while also urging them and the next generation of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) to bear their future responsibility of fighting drugs, corruption, graft, and all things that destroy the country and its people.
Likewise, President Duterte recognized the importance of the ROTC Program towards nation-building through the display of perseverance, discipline, excellence, leadership, loyalty, and patriotism among reserve officers.
Ending his remarks, President Duterte expressed his strong belief for the program to play a vital role in realizing a comfortable life for all the Filipinos, and vowed to remain relentless in achieving this goal.
The silent drill competition is in line with President Duterte's directive to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to promote interest in the ROTC Program and to showcase its values, skills, and relevance among the Filipino youth.
Silent drillers from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) emerged as the top winner of the nearly five hour-long competition before thousands of spectators. The Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) claimed the 2nd and 3rd spot, respectively.

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