President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cleaning up the bureaucracy to ensure that every public servant is worthy of public trust.
Speaking at the awarding ceremony for the 2025 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos’ Medallion of Excellence, Marcos admitted that the fight will not be easy.
‘We will continue to cleanse the ranks of government to ensure that every official and every public servant is worthy of the trust placed in them by the people,’ he said speaking in Filipino.
‘It will be hard and sometimes it will be painful, but it will be worth it because what we are fighting for is a country that our children will inherit [and] a nation that they can be proud of, that they can be proud to say, ‘I am Filipino’,’ Marcos also said.
During the ceremony at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace, Marcos personally conferred the medallion of excellence to the awardees, composed of four teachers, three soldiers, and three police officers.
They are as follows:
PMSg Ivan A. Velasco
PMAJ Elmira A. Relox
PCOL Frederick E. Obar
UO1 Anro Anthony M. Turallo, PN
Col Ricky L. Canatoy, PA
Col. Joey T. Fontiveros, PA
Mr. Noel V. Sadinas
Mr. Armando Perfecto C. Molin
Ms. Mylene M. Uy
Angelo Mark P. Walag, PhD
In the same speech, Marcos addressed the question of whether the government can still be trusted.
‘And to that, I say: Look at these men and women. In their service, you will find your answer. Because of them, we are reminded that hope is never lost, that integrity lives in our institutions, that honor still defines what it means to be a Filipino,’ he said.
‘Every honest teacher, soldier, and police officer is a victory against the corruption and hypocrisy that plague our country. Join us in inspiring us to strive to correct the wrongdoings of government,’ the President also said.
The event coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos program. /jpv