The Game Changer that is Norberto N. Gonzales
Election season has started and many political aspirants are now ready to lay down their plans on how to solve the problems that our country are facing today.
There are 10 Presidential aspirants for the upcoming May 2022 election. These candidates come from different fields with different experiences and ideas about politics, one of them is Former Secretary of National Defense Norberto B. Gonzales.
Norberto B. Gonzales, recognized by experts as one of the Philippines’ top peace negotiators to date, he also served as National Defense Secretary and National Security Adviser and Director General, under three administrations and presidents -from Cory Aquino to Fidel V. Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He also has 20 YEARS of EXPERIENCE IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
As the election comes near while we are still fighting Covid 19, Mr Noberto Gonzales has a different take on this issue. Norberto B. Gonzales asserts that the Covid- 19 virus and its latest mutation, Omicron, together with all other variants that may evolve in time, constitute the biggest threat to the country’s national security.
While the man on the street equates national security with the defense of our country’s territories, Gonzales reiterates that national security involves all aspects of our lives. Food security. Health security.
Job security. Securing the education of our children, the care of our elderly. The safety of our front liners, teachers, soldiers, farmers, fisherfolk and employees and employers alike.
Norberto B. Gonzales also emphasized that, With the Omicron variant’s arrival in the Philippines, the number of new cases jumped to record highs.
In truth, after the vaccination of a good number of the population, the country let its guard down, which in part allowed the bearers of this more transmissible virus to sneak in and infect others.
Unfortunately, corruption played a role in how some personalities were able to skip the mandatory quarantine, enabling them to party while transmitting the virus to the many who came in contact with them.
Sadly, the present leadership is not equipped with the expertise needed to safeguard the Philippines’ national security. In the next batch of possible leaders, the choices should be limited to the ones who are steeped in experience, know-how and effectivity honed by years in the field.
This is the difference offered by Norberto B. Gonzales amongst all the presidential candidates. National security is at the core of his skill set, it is his forte, strength, capability.
Today and into the future, the country will be battling difficult challenges—NOT JUST PANDEMICS—but other foreseeable changes that can upend life as we know it. Such grave changes pose a threat to national security, in all aspects of our life.
Our people will continue to pray for direction and fresh hope of a better future—but we must be cognizant of the fact that only a few people can truly make NATIONAL SECURITY A REALITY IN ALL ITS FORMS, while providing guidance, expertise, wisdom, experience, and the necessary leadership to help Filipinos live safely and happily, into the future.