Remarks of U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney PNP Alumni Homecoming Camp General Mariano N. Castaneda, Silang Cavite
March 15, 2008

As delivered

 

Magandang Hapon po sa inyong lahat.  A pleasant good afternoon to all of you and thank you for allowing me the honor of being with you today to celebrate the PNP’s many achievements and the great men and women that make up the leadership of the PNP.  I’d like to thank General Abarzosa for welcoming us all so kindly and of course Dr. Margarita Cojuangco for her great leadership in training generations of police officers.  It’s a great privilege to be joined here today also by mayors of the important cities that host this great academy.  Thank you for letting me be here before you. 

 

I was thinking today that I think I first became aware of police officers as a young child when you watch police TV shows – or perhaps when you saw the neighborhood cops as we call them wandering by, patting little kids on the head.  As I got a little bit older, I became aware of traffic policemen as they made sure that I got called everytime I missed obeying all of the traffic regulations.  Since those days I have grown up and frankly the world has changed very dramatically.  Today’s police leaderships around the world and in the Philippines are called upon to address some really difficult and complicated issues.  Narcotics, trafficking in persons, cyber-crime – very complicated issues that require the very best of our police forces.  And I could see today in the Philippines, the police force is still the shield that protects and provides security for the population, for the people of this great nation.  And it’s important that they do so because only in a secure environment can democracy, rule of law, and economic growth flourish. 

 

Looking at a couple of  key issues – trafficking in persons – police throughout this country make sure that people are rescued from this terrible crime. They save victims.  They put together cases, they put those who have preyed on these citizens in jail.  The case of the so called extra-judicial killings.  Police leadership has been at the front of this issue – creating Task Force Usig, making sure that as we move forward, the Philippines addresses this issue clearly and continues to look at ways to prosecute, investigate, and build strong cases so that the public respects the integrity of security forces. 

 

If you look as well at working with civil society – the past few weeks we have seen citizens exercising their legitimate right to protest.  They can do so because the Philippine police creates the conditions in which citizens can safely and peacefully protest.   It is allowing the citizens to exercise the democratic right-- thanks to police working as colleagues with civil society to create the right conditions.

 

Nowhere more than today, is the Philippine National Police Academy critical in carrying out this role.  I want to commend the leadership here and commend all of you on the leadership you exercise within the Philippine National Police. 

 

If you look at the achievements you’ve achieved, they are tremendous.   You are transforming the Philippine National Police into a very modern organization that can indeed lead as you face all of today’s challenges.  You have established extraordinary partnerships within your country, civil society, the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the leadership, the government, local government units, partnerships that enable so many to work together to achieve forward progress.  You have wonderful global partnerships. 

 

I’m proud that America is one of your partners but I also like to highlight the role of the Philippine National Police in leading global peacekeeping efforts.  The Philippine National Police have led efforts to help for example, East Timor to achieve peace and security.  Nowhere more than today, is the role of the Philippine National Police Academy critical in shaping the next generation.  As the alumni come here today, to celebrate your achievements, the great work you’ve done, you also come to inspire the next generation. The men and women who will need the leadership, the courage, the dedication, the commitment and the vision to lead the Philippine National Police forward.  Your combined efforts make this a truly great nation and will make it even greater in the future.  I wish all of you the greatest success as you continue to lead the Philippine National Police.  Mabuhay to all of you.  God bless you for the work you do in keeping this country safe secure and free.  Salamat po sa inyong lahat.  Thank you for honoring me by letting me be here with you.