BY REGINA BENGCO

SAYING Filipinos are "tired of the politics of division and despair," President Arroyo yesterday urged graduates of the Philippine Military Academy Baghawi Class of 2008 to stick to the principles of the military and their responsibilities to keep the nation safe.

She said the Class battle cry of "Baghawi-Buo" means that "not one less of the Baghawi Class 2008 shall stray from the time-tested virtue of the Philippine Military Academy – courage, loyalty, integrity."

She said much is expected of the Class of 2008 because its members are "special," having been given the training of the "21st century soldier."

She said the graduates were exposed not only to military science but to social services.

She said they were also exposed to "innovations" such as the paradigm shift in military protocol from "Rank Has Its Privilege" to "Rank Has Its Responsibility" and from focusing on personality-driven to institutional leadership.

"You will be leaders of character. You will be fine pillars of a strong economy and a strong military free from corruption," she said.

Arroyo said government has implemented mechanisms to fix corruption such as the Procurement Transparency Group, which monitors 40 priority projects, including the petroleum, oil and lubricants procurement of the AFP.

She said government has invested in new and better military equipment such as helicopters, watercraft, squad automatic weapons, mortars and military trucks, radio systems and force protection equipment.

Government has allocated P1 billion for housing and has included military personnel in the P12-billion salary increase for government workers that would start in July.