• PRRD visits wounded soldiers, set to release funds for AFP medical center
• PRRD endorses immediate ROTC revival
• PPCRV supports Duterte’s electoral reform initiatives, anti-corruption drive

The President comforted patients who were wounded in battle while defending the Constitution and pursuing the government’s peace efforts.

Going to the bedside of each and every patient, President Duterte interacted with new and long standing battle casualties at the country’s premier military medical facility.

A number of the soldiers tried their best to get off their beds to give a salute to the Commander-in-Chief as many of them cried and hugged the President.

“I’ll take care of you,” said President Duterte before leaving the bedside of a wounded soldier. He inspired them by announcing his administration’s programs covering a wide range of medical, health, social services, and educational benefits.

The President emphasized that he does not want the lives of soldiers compromised, by making sure that health and medical attention are given on time. Before leaving each patient, he invited them to dinner in Malacanan in the coming days.

Hours after visiting the living heroes, President Duterte met with around 500 officers and non-commissioned officers of the hospital and announced his release of the amount of P500 million for the purchase of new and state-of-the-art medical equipment as well as the construction of a new building for the hospital.

He gave a stern warning against corrupt activities such as bid rigging. The President lamented the current bidding process being implemented by government which is open to corruption.

PRRD also directed senior officials of the AFP to form a committee that would facilitate the release of retirement and pension benefits of soldiers. He likewise announced that he has approved the recruitment of 10,000 more soldiers. (PND)

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said it was President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who personally backed the ROTC’s revival.

“It’s going to help in the building of discipline and values especially in this generation and we expect ROTC to be able to help build a sense of patriotism among the next generation,” he said.

Abella assured that the President is open to conversation to allay the fears on its revival.

“Kasama na ‘yan sa prosesong pinag-uusapan, narinig na rin kung bakit may opposition tungkol sa pag-i-impose muli ng ROTC,” he said.

He stressed, however, that the emphasis of the President’s thrust in reimposing ROTC is to serve as a platform that could basically help build a sense of patriotism in the next generation of Filipinos.

In a radio interview over the weekend, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said ROTC is important because aside from instilling patriotism and discipline among young people, it also helps the country build its reserve force and easily mobilize personnel during times of disasters.

“So, nakita po ng ating Pangulo, he saw the wisdom na kailangan ibalik ito para number one, maibalik iyong discipline, strengthening of character para hindi po ganoon kabilis iyong isang bata na ma-tempt na magdroga. At number two, para to strengthen also our paramilitary,” Andanar said.

The reserve military training under RA 9163 is known as the National Service Training Program (NSTP). It has three parts—the NSTP-ROTC, Literacy Training Service, and the Civil Welfare Training Service.

But out of the three programs, Andanar said, it is unfortunate that only 14 percent of enrolled students take ROTC.

Currently, there are two pending bills in Congress being deliberated as proposed by Rep. Isidro Ungab and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Andanar said. (PND)

A multi-sectoral election watchdog group, the PPCRV praised the President’s efforts to bring back peace and order in the country and concentrate efforts to address other pressing needs like education, food security, and the peace process.

PPCRV National Chair Ambassador Henrietta de Villa called on President Duterte to end the corrupt practice of vote-buying and vote-selling during elections which threaten to erode the sanctity of democracy and to continue the legacy of good governance that the President has set as an example.

PRRD declared that he refused to accept campaign contributions from individuals or corporations that had vested interests in his administration. “I owe no one, serve no vested interest but I do owe a debt of gratitude to the Filipino people.”

He told the cluster leaders of the PPCRV that he has no claims to greatness. The former Davao City mayor said he never excelled in school while his friends and classmates received the highest honors, saying “Destiny is God-given.”

Having earned the trust and confidence of more than 16 million voters in the last elections in which he reluctantly ran, PRRD said he felt he had a solemn obligation to help his countrymen.

The President also stressed the importance of the mother and father in the family structure. He believes that the absence of either greatly affects the emotional, social and psychological development of a child and often drives young individuals to try and become addicted to drugs.

President Duterte also explained the need to win the war against illegal drugs and the apparent destruction it does to the family and the country as a whole.

While police operations have yielded only the “lieutenants” and small-time dealers, the President described these individuals as the “apparatus” by which the big-time drug lords operate their illegal business and are therefore equally important in ending the drug menace.

“It is a war and not a crisis. Poverty is not an excuse. I need to destroy the apparatus to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs,” he said.

Only five weeks into the Presidency and already PRRD has made good on a lot of his campaign promises. With this strong performance and dedication to duty, the PPCRV threw its full support to President Duterte and prays for his success in fulfilling the Filipino dream of real change, an end to corruption, and lasting peace. (PND)