At the ceremony for the promotion of more than 300 second lieutenants of the National Army, President Iván Duque said that “we have to know how to honor this Colombia, we have to know how to honor this democracy.”
President Iván Duque made on Wednesday a recognition to the Military Forces for the defense of the Constitution and for being guarantors of Colombian democracy, in the ceremony of promotion of more than 300 new officers of the National Army.
At the protocol ceremony, which took place at the Battle of Boyacá camp of the Military School of Cadets, José María Córdova, the Head of State said that “we are proud that the Military Forces remain always loyal, always orderly, always gallant and always free from any political or ideological manipulation.”
In that sense, the President emphasized on the Military Forces that “their ideology is the Constitution, their conduct is the Constitution, their inspiration is the Constitution. Colombia's [security] forces are the guarantors of a vibrant democracy and one of the oldest in the hemisphere.”
During the ceremony, the lieutenants belonging to the course General Gerardo Ayerbe Chaux and the extraordinary course Orlando Natalio Mazo Gamboa, made of non-commissioned officers of the Army, upon reaching the rank of third corporal, chose to continue as officers in the Institution, where they were promoted to second lieutenants.
“The graduation of the second lieutenants of the Republic, who come to meet the unique and exceptional mission, what distinguishes them from all the people, is [the fact] they defend the constitutional order, take care of the constitutional order, with their iron discipline, all the precepts foundations, and values, contained in our constitution,” the President added.
In the same way, he highlighted that “these Forces are made of merit, effort, selflessness, and bravery. In addition, he said that talent and not privilege leads many young people in the territory to start a career, graduate today and build a way to promote to the highest levels of command.”
When expressing his congratulations, Duque highlighted that “each one of you assume today that challenge: the love of the Constitution, every day, to love the National tri-color, to extend the greeting Homeland Honor and Loyalty, because the Homeland is above all, because honor is the foundation of ethics and because the allegiance to this Republic is the reason for living.”
He in the same way highlighted that the Military Forces must collaborate not only in maintaining constitutional order and democracy, but in defending the rights of Colombians.
“The defense of democracy is in the same way the defense of economic freedom, because democracy invites citizens to create micro, small, medium and large enterprises to trigger employment and progress which can never be threatened by the whims of the rulers,” he said.
Finally, he said ”I am honored, as Supreme Commander, to accompany the promotion General Gerardo Ayerbe Chaux in this graduation, where you begin a way of history where you will always find our support.”
Source: Government Information System
