Opening Remarks of Dir. Melito Mabilin at the AFAD Induction
The opening remarks of P/Dir. Melito Mabilin, Director, Civil Security Group & the inducting officer during the induction of the AFAD Board of Directors for 2015:
“xxx The right of the people, including those employed in the public and private sectors, to form unions, associations, or societies for purposes not contrary to law shall not be abridged . xxx”
Fellow officers, friends, ladies and gentlemen and most especially, the AFAD officers and members, a pleasant morning.
I have just quoted to you the constitutional provision on freedom of association which can be found at Section 8, Article II (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution. This is the hallmark of the many civil liberties and freedoms we have achieved as we collectively struggled to ensure that never again shall the State nor any despot, forbid the formation and maintenance of organizations that do not defy the law.
Thus, at the outset, allow me to congratulate the officers and members of the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc., better known as AFAD. Your association, which was founded in 1989 with the aim of representing the interests of the defense and security industry, is a unique one – a class of its own. With its very own governance and regulations, AFAD exists to consolidate firearms dealers into an integral forum, and to formulate and impose self-regulating policies for the industry. According to your website, AFAD also closely coordinates with the Philippine National Police and other agencies concerned in minimizing illegal trading and importation of weaponry and the promotion of responsible firearm ownership. This is an area which I am most particularly interested in.
No less than His Excellency President Benigno S Aquino III has promoted the development of Public-Private Partnership and this occasion today is our version of that partnership where we further strengthen that ties that bind us together as we solidify our collective commitment to nurture and revitalize the firearms and ammunition industry.
Just recently, the industry had been beset by challenges of various sorts but what makes this industry truly remarkable is its ability to withstand all these challenges and emerge stronger than before. Let us therefore capitalize on this inner strength as we proactively engage ourselves in realizing our commitment to truly care for the industry.
As we traverse the path of a new era of firearms and ammunition regulation with the passage of RA 10591 otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act” and its implementing rules and regulations and related FEO issuances, may we remain focused on our common goal of assuring ourselves and the ever expanding firearms industry, to embrace the new wave of reforms that is permeating the industry with the advent of regulator policies created to ensure the stronger law enforcement dimension, prevent illegal arms trade, put an end to the proliferation of loose firearms and engender in the citizenry their fair share in public order and safety.
Rest assured that the reforms that we have initiated, implemented and institutionalized at CSG and its two offices, FEO and SOSIA, will not be temporary but one that will endure the test of time. By pursuing and aggressively implementing our own unique performance governance system (PGS) as we envision a highly capable, effective and credible police service working in partnership with a responsive community towards the attainment of a safer place to live, work and do business, we likewise endeavor to: (1) Attain positive performance to gain the trust and confidence of the stakeholders, like your association, (2) Sustain public information and dialogue with the stakeholders, just like this occasion, (3) Sustainable partnership and collaboration with the stakeholders, Im confident, our partnership will be stronger that ever, and (4) Ensure transparency and accountability in all financial transactions, which we at CSG, FEO and SOSIA have been doing with the implementation of the PNP Citizen’s Charter, a business processing improvement system for the PNP’s frontline services.
Before I end, may we reminded that today’s occasion, the Induction of AFAD’s officers, is a solemn occasion as you invoke your respective pledges which is the most concrete and accurately described commitment in your capacity as the organizational torchbearers. May you all guide your members towards the righteous path of ethical governance and business management in partnership with the national government, particularly with us at the CSG. Your oath of office is not a promise meant to be broken, rather, it is a living document that will assure us of righteous, transformational and progressive leadership where consensus, consultation, flexibility, adaptability and optimism are its reliable pillars. Together, let us join hands as we keep our commitment and perpetuate our efforts at nourishing the firearms industry. Finally, I wish to end this message with a thought from Marco Ferroni and Paul Castle: “when the right partners come together in the right way, the synergies they achieve can lead to results well beyond the reach of any one organization or institution alone”.
Thank you for your unwavering support. Mabuhay!