President Rodrigo Duterte drew flak on social media for giving P50,000 each to Marine personnel who are celebrating their birthdays this month, as some social media users said the Chief Executive should prioritize helping thousands of people who were displaced due to Taal Volcano eruption.
The President visited the Philippine Marine Corps on Monday to lead the turnover ceremony of military equipment and firearms. In the middle of his speech, he asked who among the audience would celebrate their birthdays this month.
“I’ll give it to you as birthday gifts. That’s not for your girlfriends. Bring it to your children,” he said.
“Give me a listing and I’ll try to send the money tonight or tomorrow. The latest is tomorrow. Fifty thousand for those who were born in the month of January,” Duterte added.
Later in his speech, he said he was not asking for the loyalty of the uniformed personnel.
“I am not asking any loyalty. We remain—all of us—we remain loyal to the flag. And under that flag is the written Constitution,” President Duterte said.
The cash doleout did not sit well with some social media users, and President Duterte emerged as one of the top trending topics on Twitter Monday night.
Some also decried that the Department of Agriculture offered P25,000 loan assistance for farmers affected by the Taal eruption, but he gave cash to Marines personnel.
“Duterte’s priotity is misplaced. Rather than helping the victims of Taal Volcano eruption, he distributed 50k each to Phil Marines’ birthday celebrants. Takot talagang makudeta,” said Twitter user @datumx11.
Twitter user @piedrasplatas said: “50k birthday allowance—really really shows who Duterte prioritizes at a time like this. Do I give money to constituents who are facing a calamity or to marines who will protect my ass??? Tough question.”
“I support our troops but this ain’t right. I’m starting to believe that Duterte is afraid of something that he just give cash to the PNP and other branch of the AFP,” social media user @ARCruzOna said.
Meanwhile, Duterte urged members of the Philippine Marine Corps to use their brand-new equipment and firearms to eliminate enemies of the state.
Duterte issued the statement after turning over military equipment and firearms to members of the PMC to enhance its capabilities and heading the awarding ceremony of the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the ranks of Kampilan and Kamagi to soldiers who actively participated in the liberation of Marawi City.
Among the equipment and firearms that were handed over include Barret Rifles, Glock Pistols, Rock Island .45 caliber pistols, .50 caliber sniper rifles, and 5W VHF hand-held radios and repeater systems.
“Binigyan ko naman kayo (I have given you new equipment and firearms). Use it to kill the enemies of the state. Ubusin ninyo, patayin ninyo ang mga p********** ‘yan (Finish them off, kill them all),” Duterte said in a speech in Taguig City.
“Patayin ninyo ang kalaban. ‘Pag nasa crosshair na, i-target mo ‘yung puso pati ulo. Kasi kayo talagang papatayin kayo ng mga walang-hiya na ‘yan. Mag-ambush pa (Kill the enemies. When they’re in the crosshair, target their heart and head. Because they’ll really kill you. They’ll ambush you),” he added.
Duterte lauded the 103 officers and 1,800 enlisted personnel who successfully regained the Mapandi, Banggolo, and Masiu bridges in Marawi and recovered more than P80 million worth of cash and checks.
He urged the marines to continue working with this administration not only in the promotion of peace and order but also in humanitarian and disaster response in times of natural and man-made disasters.
In turn, he assured them that the administration would continue to boost their morale, efficiency, and responsiveness through modernization, capacity building, and other meritorious initiatives.
According to Duterte, the government has been fast-tracking the acquisition of vessels, aircraft, trucks, drones and other equipmentas part of the more than PHP283 billion worth of projects under the Second Horizon of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program since 2018.
He expressed hope that by 2021, the marines would be better capacitated with the light armor systems upgrade, squad rocket launchers, and protection equipment to keep the country’s forces at par with their foreign counterparts.
Lamenting how it pained him to see how soldiers captured by terrorists were “treated like dogs in camps”, he urged them to reserve one bullet to take their own lives rather than remain captives.
“Kung na-corner ka na (When you get cornered)…” Duterte said, making the gesture shooting himself in the mouth.
He assured the soldiers that should they be killed in action, he would see to it that their families would be taken good care of.
“I will see to it that your family will survive and I will see to it that your children will have a good education,” he added.
The President admitted that although he might not be able to restore marines who have lost their limbs and legs from injury to their “original state”, he would make it a point that they have their dignity intact.
“Titindig pa rin (You’ll still stand),” Duterte said.
He said the wives of marines who are injured or killed will also be given jobs.
In October 2017, Duterte announced the liberation of Marawi City after more than four months of battling Islamic State-inspired terrorists. Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after the Islamic State-inspired Maute group laid siege in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on May 23, 2017.
Congress extended the initial 60-day martial rule thrice upon the President’s recommendation to help state forces quell the insurgency in Mindanao. Martial law in Mindanao expired on Dec. 31, 2019. With PNA