| QUOTE (Numbers @ Mar 16 2007, 08:15 AM) |
| The Army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) adopted on Thursday Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as its lifetime honorary member because of the "invaluable support” the “special operations operator” has rendered to the elite unit. FSRR commander Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu pinned the Scout Ranger badge on Ebdane while the latter visited their headquarters at Camp Tecson in San Miguel town, Bulacan. He also handed Ebdane, a former PNP chief who assumed the top post in the defense department last Feb. 1, the FSRR black suit, which Scout Ranger used in mounting operations against enemies of the state. Mapagu described him as a “man who, deep in his heart, is a special operations operator.” Ebdane also served as National Security Adviser (NSA) and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary before he was named Defense Secretary. He said that the Defense official has contributed “invaluable” assistance, which includes the installation of the water system, the pursuit of the Philippine Defense Reform program, and the provision of legal assistance to soldiers who are facing charges in the line of duty. On the other hand, Ebdane said he was not surprised that he would be given the distinct honor of becoming a member of the “Panther family” because he had led joint operations by the Constabulary’s Special Action Force and Scout Rangers in the past. He said the operations include the 1975 raid of the jungle training base of then Lt. Victor Corpus, who had defected to the communist party in Umingan, Pangasinan. Corpus later surrendered and reinstated to the service. “When I was told that I will be given an honorary Ranger tag and uniform, I was not really surprised… Although I have not been from the Philippine Army, but we have operated together,” the defense chief said. Ebdane assured the officers and men of the FSRR that “you will have my trust and confidence and let's continue with the work” even as he vowed that he would make sure that "you’ll have the resources and the mindset to get the job done.” “Your job in the finest tradition of the First Scout Ranger Regiment is fight hard, strike fast and finish rapidly. I know you can do this easily,” said Ebdane in asking the unit to continue their fight against threat groups. Earlier, the DND Chief inaugurated the FSRR’s water system (which he initiated when he was still DPWH Secretary), the Military Police barracks, and visited the soldiers’ housing area. He also led a tree planting activity by the elite group. He said his visit to the FSRR headquarters is part of his routine visit since he assumed as Defense Secretary. He said he has been to other military units, including the major services and unified area commands. (PNA) Source |