Halfway into his term, President Rodrigo Duterte’s relationship with the military remains strong as ever, with the commander-in-chief promising to take responsibility for consequences in the execution of their missions such as that on the war on drugs and insurgency.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala. Sasamahan ko kayo (Do not worry. I will join you). I will…if you go down, I go down. But for this martial law and the consequences of martial law and the ramifications of martial law, I and I alone would be responsible, trabaho lang kayo (just work). Ako ng bahala (I will handle this),” he said in front of the 2nd mechanized infantry brigade in Lanao Del Norte during the Marawi Siege in 2017. He even said in jest that he would “take all the responsibility” if the soldiers commit rape.
In June, President Duterte approved the P300-billion budget of the five-year second horizon of the AFP Modernization Program.
Duterte’s trust and confidence in the military was again exemplified with the recent appointment of retired General Ricardo Morales as president and chief executive officer of the corruption-tainted Philippine Health Insurance (Philhealth) Corporation. In October 2018, the president appointed retired Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista as social welfare and development secretary, the third former soldier in the Duterte Cabinet after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu.
In various speeches, Duterte said he is ready to relinquish the presidency if the military does not want him anymore. However, on July 2, 2019, he pleaded with the military and the police not to “do it, please, during my term,” apparently referring to the staging of a coup d’etat.
In August, Duterte ordered the relief of and institution of court martial proceedings against Brigadier General Edwin Leo Torrelavega, and AFP Medical Center (V. Luna Hospital) Colonel Antonio Punzalan, former commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service Command, for the alleged multi-million-peso anomalous procurement of medicines and medical equipment.
As the Duterte administration moves past the midpoint of its term, here is how it fared in serving the armed forces.
PROMISE: Provide assistance to the police and the military |
| “In recognition of their valor, we have crafted a program to provide them comprehensive social assistance, including financial, should they meet harm in the performance of their duty. For the family left behind by those who fell or are rendered totally disabled in the line of duty, we shall provide shelter, health care assistance, education, and employment.” (SONA 2017) |
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Duterte In its annual audit of the National Housing Authority, the Commission on Audit reported Low-ranking officers The maldistribution, according to the COA, “reduced the number of units available to the intended beneficiaries.” A The The government Other agencies |
PROMISE: Rehabilitate military hospitals |
| “July nagpunta na ako sa Davao–sa AFP Medical Center… then I saw the building and I went inside, iyong drainage nila bumabalik. So I said…you know I’m really surprised. You know, military men, why would you allow that kind of thing? The dirt is going back to the… how do you expect the sailors to—the soldiers to get well? Tapos that’s the only building, the oldest. I said okay you rehabilitate it, I’ll give you a new one, in the meantime.” (SONA 2017) |
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The Other military The The AFP Medical Center has been calling for Aside from renovation In April, the |
Sources
ABS-CBN News Online, AFP chief scrambles to fix ‘systemic corruption in military hospital, August 13, 2018
Official Gazette, Speech of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte During His Hospital Visit to PO1 Nestor Villanueva, August 29, 2016
RTVMalacanang, 72nd Philippine Air Force (PAF) Anniversary (Speech) 7/2/2019, July 2, 2019
Philippine Navy, PH Navy celebrates 121st Anniversary; Commissions new air, amphibious assets, facilities, June 18, 2019
Presidential Communications Operations Office, President Duterte vows for continuous AFP modernization, July 2, 2019
RTVM, Talk to Men, May 26, 2017
Philippine News Agency, Phase 2 of AFP Modernization Program gets PRRD nod, June 20, 2018
GMA News Online, Duterte approves P300-B phase 2 of AFP modernization program, June 20, 2018
Inquirer.net, Duterte hopes successor will sustain AFP modernization, July 2, 2019
Philippine Navy, Philippine Navy’s first ever state-of-the-art frigate launched in South Korea, May 24, 2019
Philippine Navy, PH Navy celebrates 121st Anniversary; Commissions new air, amphibious assets, facilities, June 18, 2019
Department of Health, Press Statement of Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque on the DOJ-DOH Meeting, June 25, 2019
Rappler, Militarization of government? ‘Correct!’ says Duterte, November 1, 2018
GMA News Online, Militarization of government? Correct, says Duterte,November 1, 2018
Philstar.net, Duterte admits ‘militarization of government’, November 2, 2018
Inquirer.net, Duterte fires 20 military officials over corruption, August 13, 2018
Philstar, Duterte fires military hospital chief for corruption, August 14, 2018
Rappler, Duterte fires top AFP Medical Center officials, August 13, 2018
On military and police assistance
- RTVMalacanang, 2017 State of the Nation Address, July 23, 2018
- Commission on Audit, 2018 COA NHA Report (Observations and Recommendations)
- Department of Interior and Local, DILG releases P582.5-M in financial assistance to 2,330 beneficiaries of injured or fallen cops and soldiers, July 19, 2018
- Department of National Defense, Statement on PRRD’s directive to release
- Php6.4B for pension arrears of AFP Retirees, April 11, 2017
- Presidential Communications Operations Office, President Duterte: AFP/PNP housing project in Tarlac completed in 2019, March 7, 2018
- Commission on Audit, 2018 GHQ-AFP Report (Observations and Recommendations)
- Commission on Audit, 2018 COA PA Report (Observations and Recommendations)
- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, TESDA continues skills training for dependents of police, soldiers killed in action, June 21, 2019
- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, TESDA GIVES TRAINING TO KIN OF SOLDIERS, COPS, March 30, 2017
- Presidential Communications Operations Office, Duterte provides assistance to wounded soldiers, 03 March 2017, March 3, 2017
- Presidential Communications Operations Office, President Duterte assures wounded soldiers and civilians of full gov’t care, Sept. 22, 2018
- Department of Social Welfare and Development, DSWD to facilitate the release of second tranche of cash assistance to kins of SAF 44, March 8, 2019
- Department of Interior and Local Government, DILG releases P582.5-M in financial assistance to 2,330 beneficiaries of injured or fallen cops and soldiers, July 19, 2018
- PTV, ON THE SPOT: AFP, patuloy ang pagbibigay ng scholarship sa mga mag-aaral sa Marawi, Nov. 23, 2018
- Presidential Communications Operations Office, President Duterte confers Order of Lapu-Lapu on soldiers killed, injured in Sulu bombing, July 3, 2019
On rehabilitation of military hospitals
- RTVMalacanang, 2017 State of the Nation Address, July 23, 2018
- ABS-CBN News Online, Fuming Duterte fires military health officers over alleged corruption, Aug. 13, 2018
- DMCI, DMCIHI_032 First Quarter FInancial Report, May 15, 2019
- Melco Resorts Philippines, CONSTRUCTION OF PSG STATION HOSPITAL BEGINS, May 1, 2019
- Presidential Communications Operations Office, President Duterte graces PSG anniversary, reaffirms all-out support for troops, June 28, 2017
- Department of Budget and Management, General Appropriations Act of 2019 (Armed Forces of the Philippines) (Page 18)
- Department of Budget and Management, General Appropriations Act of 2018 Armed Forces of the Philippines) (Page 18)
- RTVMALACANANG, Go Negosyo: “Pilipinas Angat Lahat” Launch (Speech) 8/14/2018, Aug. 14, 2018
- Department of Information and Communications Technology, Honasan visits wounded soldiers, children as DICT intensifies free Wi-Fi drive in hospitals, July 13, 2019
- Veterans Memorial Medical Center, VMMC INAUGURATES NEW EMERGENCY WARD
- Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP receives P85 Million worth of financial assistance from PCSO
- SM Foundation, SM Foundation Turns Over Newly-Renovated Bgen Benito N. Ebuen Air Base Hospital, March 6, 2019
- SM Foundation, Upgrading WESCOM’s station hospital in Puerto Princesa, July-August 2018
- SM Foundation, Wellness for the Navy, March-April 2018
- Philippine News Agency, 2ID Army hospital gets P1.5-M anti-dengue supplies, July 3, 2019
- Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP Chief Visits Battle Casualties
- Philippine Information Agency, Duterte assures funds for army’s medical needs, Sept. 19, 2018
- Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP receives P20-million worth of meds, supplies, April 25, 2019
- Philippine International Trading Corporation, DESIGN AND BUILD OF TWO (2) STOREY OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT (OPD) BUILDING FOR THE V. LUNA MEDICAL CENTER (VLMC), AFP HEALTH SERVICE COMMAND, CAMP VICTORIANO K. LUNA, V. LUNA AVENUE, QUEZON CITY, Nov. 2018
- Philippine International Trading Corporation, Summit on Industrial Collaboration Program under the DND Procurement
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