By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
SAN JUAN CITY — Former AFP and PNP chiefs, generals, and officers from the Arroyo, Aquino, Duterte, and Marcos administrations expressed their support to the Senate run of Col. (Ret.) Ariel Querubin on Monday (July 8) at Club Filipino here.
They revealed their full support to Querubin, the “Push-Up Man” as they called for unity and heroism amidst threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and to national security.
In “A Gathering of Warriors”, they presented a manifesto signed by more than 2,000 former AFP and PNP generals and officers.
They also officially endorsed Querubin’s candidacy for the Senate, highlighting his distinguished military career, commitment to public service, and vision for a united and patriotic Philippines.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. (Ret.) Ramon C. Liwag cited the sacrifices and love for the nation through a poet Liwag himself composed.
In his poem, Liwag said that Querubin will sacrifice his own life for the Filipinos and the nation.
The manifesto of servant warriors read by Diwa expressed their unwavering support to Querubin in his obstinate advocacy and belief.
It cited Querubin’s role in the private sector in the fight against Covid-19.
The Covid-19 pandemic hit the Philippines hard from March 15, 2020 until December 2022.
The servant warriors called on everyone to support Querubin’s advocacy and mission for the betterment of the Filipino nation.
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Benjamin Defensor, former PAF and erstwhile AFP chief of staff; Adm. (Ret.) Liwag, Adm. (Ret.) Edmon Tan, and Querubin took the center stage.
They are all veterans of EDSA 1 and EDSA 2.
Defensor also cited the impressive campaigns of Querubin in Mindanao during his tour of duty.
He likewise cited the speech of his sister then Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), which for him, would earn more votes in his lifetime.
Defensor was the former President/CEO of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) wherein there were then no GOs and POGOs, but when they left Clark, the GOs and POGOs sprang up.
Tan said that because they believe in the man, they are endorsing and supporting the senatorial candidacy of Querubin.
He cited Querubin as most decorated soldier in the country’s history, who would surely get elected as Senator of the Republic.
*Let us support and campaign for the Man, our Man, Ariel Querubin,” he stressed.
Command Sergeant Major Edilberto Arlustre, PN, Philippine Marines, cited the military career of Querubin as an” open book” to the whole nation.
” A man of unparalleled honor and integrity,” he said, adding that, Querubin has shown that a true leader is “Participative than directive”.
Querubin, a Medal of Valor Awardee, cited the “journey” from Martial Law to EDSA and through the Arroyo, Aquino, Duterte, and Marcos administrations.
“Sawa na ang ating kababayan sa hirap at gutom. Sawa na tayo sa pang-aapi at pang-aabuso ng ilang nasa pamahalaan,” he said.
“It is a search for the soul of the nation. it is the time to rekindle patriotism for the country,” he added.
“To my esteemed colleagues, You are my inspiration in this endeavor,” Querubin stressed.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone present in Club Filipino and the Filipino people as a whole for the support, trust and belief in him and for endorsing his senatorial bid to serve the nation in May 2025 mid-term elections.
The filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 mid-term elections will be on Oct. 1-8, 2024.
Querubin is still with the Nacionalista Party (NP). He is open to alliances and to any party who would adopt him.
He was known to have stood with the Filipino solders for the longest time.
On the WPS issue, Querubin said that the problem will not be solved through a war, but rather, it’s better to solve it through diplomatic means.
“Nobody wants war. The WPS issue will not be solved overnight,” Querubin said.
Querubin admitted that he is now in the “comfort zone” and he is willing to leave such a comfort zone to be able to serve the Filipino people in particular, and the Filipino nation in general.
If elected as Senator, Querubin said that will push for the strengthening of the Magna Carta for Women, the welfare and benefits for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as well as for the agriculture sector.
As a former operations officer in the WPS, Querubin said, “Aminin natin na we are weak militarily, but we should be Resilient against the bullying of China in the WPS.” Querubin is in favor of amendments in the 1987 Philippine Constitution through Constitutional Convention (ConCon).
