67th Birthday of the Philippine Marine Corps 11/8/2017 

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
November 7, 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte graced the 67th Birthday of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), and led the awarding of plaques and ceremonial cake cutting at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
In his message, the President said he would release PhP500-million to be allotted to the wounded and disabled soldiers, which will be coursed directly to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for speedy disbursement.
“I want ‘yung mabilisan na, sabi ko, Ibigay ko na lang sa opisina ‘yan ni Delfin and siya na ang bahala for the immediate release of the medicines and to shop around for the titaniums. It’s quite expensive but in the long run, it would have its benefits and make the soldiers happy again… I love my soldiers and I love my police. And you can be very sure that I am there when the moment needs me. Nandiyan ako sa tabi ninyo,” the President said.
On the ongoing West Philippine Sea disputes, the President said he had asserted the Philippines’ territorial claims over Pag-asa Island and similar small territories to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who, in turn, gave his assurance that he will not touch nor build anything on the Scarborough Shoal.
During the event, the President conferred medals and plaques of recognition to 12 PMC soldiers and private organizations that rendered invaluable support and service to the PMC at the height of Marawi crisis. The occasion also paid tribute to its fallen soldiers killed-in-action.
Organized on November 7, 1950, under the orders of President Elpidio Quirino and Ramon Magsaysay, then Secretary of National Defense, the Philippine Marine Corps today is considered one of the elite forces of the Philippines, operating against communist insurgencies, Moro rebellion, terrorism, as well as to promote peace and development, living up to its motto: ‘Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan’.
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