Ang Magiting - The Official Web Site of Rotary Club Makati North

Security Risk Assessment

By: Sec. Bob Hecks
Nov. 24, 2010

Our guest speaker was our District Governor-Elect PP Ismael “Billy” Villareal, formerly Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP and a Past President (twice) of RC Makati Edsa. Introducing him, PP Ric dela Torre said “He knows what it takes to be a Rotarian and what it takes to lead.”

DGE Billy’s talk was entitled “Security Risk Assessment.” As a former Deputy Chief of Staff, he is well qualified to conclude: “Overall, internal risks are greater than external risks.” One external risk he did mention was the current issue of Security Warnings of foreign governments to their citizens about the dangers of visiting the Philippines. In reply to a question by PP Bert Lingad, DGE Billy took a balanced view recognizing the obligations of any government to its people. He remarked that “they never forget the Bali bombing” – an issue that is today subject to legal action in Australia by victims’ relatives who believe that their government was aware of a possible threat at about that time.

DGE Billy reflected helpfully on the situation in Muslim Mindanao and the roots of conflict there in the fact that the Sultanates were never colonized by Spain. This led to their conflict relationship with the US from 1900 and is one basis for their rebellious attitudes now and their hosting of sanctuaries for third-country operations of terrorists. But regional cooperative responses to terrorism have been responsible for the arrest of terrorists throughout S.E.Asia, and the situation is improving.

Our District Governor-Elect was careful not to upstage incumbent DG Ed Alvarez by talking too much about Rotary. But he did say, perhaps observing RCMN’s current membership problems, that “clubs must have a diverse membership”. Urging us to “be bold” he mentioned the importance of young members and the possibility of women members.

The meeting was delightfully moderated by PP Bert Lingad. He looked good, and his lively style attested to his much better state of health. “I feel good,” he said, and so did we. “I’ll be 81 on December 22 – that’s one reason why Christmas means so much to me.”