FORT Del Pilar -- The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will not endorse any candidate for the May 2016 polls.
Lieutenant Colonel Reynaldo Balido Jr. of the PMA Public Affairs Office said: “We are not going to endorse any politician this coming elections because it is in the rules of the Academy to not endorse any candidate even if they are our Alumni.”
Political aspirants for the upcoming May election who graduated in PMA include Antonio Trillanes IV, Marilag class of 1995, Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson both from Matatag class of 1971, while all the presidential and vice presidential candidates are honorary members of PMA classes.
“We have alumnus and honorary members they can run but we cannot endorse them and also we cannot force our other alumni to vote for them,” Balido said.
The PMA adheres to a strict no endorsement policy.
“Our members have their own right to choose whether to vote or not the aspiring politicians from the academy,” Balido said.
Presidential aspirants who were adopted by their respective classes are Manuel "Mar" Roxas II of the Maharlika class of 1984, vice president Jejomar Binay of the Maringal class of 1988, Grace Poe of the Sambigkis class of 1991, Miriam Defensor Santiago of 1969 class, and Rodrigo Duterte of the Dimasupil class of 1967.
Vice presidential candidates Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was also adopted by the PMA Alumni Association, while Alan Peter Cayetano is an adopted Tanglaw Diwa class of 1992, and Francis Escudero Hinirang class of 1987.
Senatorial aspirant Lacson also of Class 1971 agreed that the PMA should not endorse any of the aspirants.
“Tama lang na wala silang i-endorse kasi campo ito. Bound sila ng AFP rules and regulations at hindi dapat ito mahaluan ng pulitika lalo na dito sa homecoming,” Lacson added.
A challenge to be relevant
The 2016 PMA alumni homecoming Saturday was graced by Cavalier Marciano Paynor Jr. of class 1971, Undersecretary, Office of the President and Director General, Apec national organizing Committee 2015.
“I have three interconnecting things that can teach you on how to be relevant. First, Choose to improve yourself, by this you should read and read and read, second, choose to be able to articulate yourself in every way by this I mean refrain from using the Cadet lingo, and lastly, develop strategic thinking, think out of the box. In fact be a solution looking for problems to solve,” Paynor in his speech challenging the PMA cadets and members to be relevant.
Paynor further encouraged the cadets to do their best all the time without the want to be recognized.
“Improve yourself by doing your best with your job, while doing it, forget yourself that you will lose your job. Do it with objective and not your own vested interest, live yourself and love your country,” Paynor added.
The homecoming was attended by 494 cadets, over 1, 807 alumnus and their families with a totaling to 4500 who flocked to the hallowed grounds of the Borromeo field.
This year’s biggest PMA family was the Arevalo Family who graced the event with the long line of proud PMA alumni.
The youngest PMA alumni is 22-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Joel Beran Jr. from Class 2015 while the oldest is 90-year-old Retired Major General Delfin Castro Sr. from class 1951.
PMA Awardees
The jubilarians during the homecoming were Class of ’56 (diamond jubilarian), class of ’66, (golden jubilarian) and class of ’91 (silver jubilarian).
Other PMA awardees were Cav. Edgar Aglipay ’71 for private enterprise, Cav. Amado Espino Jr. ’72 for public administration, Cav. Cecil Chen ’82 for command and administration, Cav. Oriel Pangcog ’91 for army operations, Cav. Jose Chiquito Malayo ‘89 for police operations, Cav. Lued Lincuna ’93 for naval operations, Cav. Eduardo Fabricante ‘89 for coast guard operations, Cav. Ricardo Marquez ’82 for special operations, Cav. Jesus Nelson Morales ’93 for Air force Operations, Cav. Reynaldo Velasco ’71 for alumni affairs, Cav. Vicente Cejoco ’82 for special field and Cav. Edgar Fallorina for Staff Functions.