Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (Photo from Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Facebook page) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said it has been an honor for him to serve and make a difference as the country's 36th defense chief. "Karangalan ko ang makapaglingkod bilang ika-36 na Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa. Salamat sa inyong tiwala at suporta! (It was an honor for me to serve as the 36th National Defense Secretary. Thank you for your trust and support!)," he said in a Facebook post Tuesday. Lorenzana, in a quote card attached to the same post, also said the DND in the past six years has been "steadfast in fulfilling its mandate," contributing to President Rodrigo R. Duterte's legacy of building a strong uniformed force. "I want to be remembered as the Secretary of National Defense who was able to make a difference: the improvement of the Defense organization to better secure our nation," he added. Unde
(Photo courtesy of Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Facebook page) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he is honored to have worked with President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whose leadership he described as "people-centered". "Thank you, PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) Sir! It's both an honor and a privilege to serve the nation under your exceptional and people-centered leadership," he said in his Facebook post on Thursday. In the same post, Lorenzana said he received an award from the Chief Executive for his vital role in the country's pandemic response. "In a simple ceremony last June 16, I received from President Duterte the Lakandula Award-Degree of Grand Cross for serving as Chairperson of the National Task Force against Covid 19 (NTF-Covid-19)," he added. Lorenzana became the country's 36th defense secretary last June 30, 2016 and brought to the DND his expertise in national defense and security,