The need for a general perspectives

Title

Creator

Rodriguez, Eulogio, Sr.

Language

English

Source

Philippine Armed Forces Journal Volume IX (No. 5) March 1956

Year

1956

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

The Need for a General Perspective By Honorable Eulugio Rodngucz, Sr P1 cs1dent of the Senate ,angement on this matter, I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to express my own viewpoints. And while I am no expert on military matters, it is sa.(e for me to claim adequate knowledge gathered during forty-six years of service to our people in both the executive and legislative branches of our government. I also have that broad perspective springing from experience, and more often than not, experience proves much better than any theory learned from books. What is the philosophy behind rivilian supremacy? What is , it that makes this set-up the most desirable in our country? There are many reasons, but time and space do not permit me to mention all of them here. However, a few important ones would suffice. Firstly, we need only to look at various South American Republics where the military services are allowed to become too powerful. We know of many countries whose governments are rendered unstable because the1r armies concern themselves not just with the functions of defense but also interfere in politics and even in inn-igue. Instability in government always works to the detriment of the people, for how can progress and prosperity be achieved when chaos' and confusion set in periodically? How could a nation be built on the unstable foundation of a government that may topple down at the whims of a certain segment of its people1 The Philippines has, so far, main· tained a stable government, and \O,•e ha\'e not experienced coups nor major Overeopecrforrhedv!re!ectedrepreoentoll•e•olrheso•ereo9npeopfei<occordedby the mi!itory rn consonance '"'''h prrncip!e thot cr•d ovthorrty 1ho!! "''"'"1' be 1vpreme revolutions exct>pt the Communist- but m the implementation of these jnspiJ·ed Huk movement. This is general policies, it is not humanly partly due to the fact that our Armed possible for him to delve into details. Forces doe~ not meddl .. in politics, He just does not have the time for and it i~ Lmpartial. More rmportant, that. Hence arises the need for· n because it recognizes the authodty of civilian Secretar·y of National Deour duly elected officials who are the fense to serve as the President's alter representativ('s of the sovereign ego, having supervision and control people. over the Armed Forces. On the SecIt is absolutely necl'Ssary that all retary of National Defense, there~tovernmental agencies work in per- fore, devolves the responsibility of feet com·dination and har·mony to seeing to it that the policies set forth wards one end: public welfare. The by the President ar·e carefully and President is our ChiPf of State, and correctly being followed and execut the function of coordinating devolves cd. lie likewise must be possessed of on him. He sets down general policies, a general perspective, so that he may know exactly whet·e the Armed afot·e-mentioned general perspective, Forces should stand in relation to to undet·stand why. other govet·nmental agencies in the As I said in the speech I delivered task of securing public welfare. sometime ago in Camp Murphy, our Take a general perspective, and soldiers unk equalA if they are not relate this matter to the budget: superior, to the soldiet·s of other It would he difficult for military countries in the world. My sincere minds to compt·ehend why, at a time hope is that, with the means made when thl' growth and development of available to them, they will continue our Armed Forces is a necessit~· in to perform theiz· assigned tasks comview of unstable world conditions, mendably, and thet·efot·e, continue to cuts are bein_g made on our defense deserve the confidence and trust of budgets. It would be difficult to ad- the Filipino people. mit that there at·e other things just as imPortant as, 1f not more impot·tant than, our national defense. But there - - - - - - - - - - - ne mot·e impot·tant things which deS<'rve pdol'ity. Pt"esently, we have rural rlt>v('lopment to stt·engthen the backbone of our portulation. We have education, industrialization, and other adivitie~ all ten(hng to strengthen our nation, spiritually, llHmtally, and fulogio ~odriguez, St ;, o lotm~t. b">1neumon and p<~bfoc 18t•onl He rose /tom a J-o<Jmi>Je fotmtr 10 J-oeod of •Ot~Ous bu.,neu and f>noncial tnlttpt>oes, /tom low ly m<Jn•cipol pre.,denl oo pteJident ol t~e NocionoJOJto Patty ond ol tJ-oe PJ-oiloppine Senate He w01 ol.o 11l•~ted go•etnOt ol ~le~~~:c~~:~ rco\\~:~d t~~s~a:~.ingl;,/~; _ '" -'' ...:'_"_ ''"" - '"- '" - ' - - - - - tak••s only common sensl', and thl' !!!!!lSI. • ond re• ie..- J-oeld in J-oonor ol ~ •m ond ot~er renolorJ 8e~ind ~im oppeot Delen•e Secrelotr l ulogio Boloo ond ll Gen Jesv• Votg<u, AfP c ~ •el of <lalf

Media