PHILIPPINE BROADCASTING SERVICE
February 08, 2017 – News Releases
| 08 February 2017 |
|
|
|
| From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella on the revival of the mandatory reserve officers training corps program for Grades 11 & 12 |
| Acting on the Department of National Defense (DND)’s recommendation, the President has approved a bill amending RA7077 which mandates the “institutionalization, development, training and organization” of Basic ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private schools during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
In his 2016 State of the Nation Address, the President made a policy pronouncement to strengthen the ROTC program to “instill love of country and good citizenship” among the youth, and to make it once again mandatory. The Bill will be submitted to Congress which will deliberate on it before it becomes a law. |
|
|
| From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella on the New York Times’ opinion article written by ex-Colombian President Cesar Gaviria |
| We respect the opinion of former President Cesar Gaviria that Colombia’s experience of “war against drugs” cannot be won by the armed forces and law enforcement agencies alone.
The Philippine President rightly understood the same insight when he began to address not just crime and illegal drugs but also broadened government efforts into a public health issue. The second phase of the President’s anti-drug campaign focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents. More than a national security problem, the proliferation of drugs in the country has been regarded as a health pandemic. A 2,500-patient capacity Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRC) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija was inaugurated last November. Another drug rehabilitation center, the Residential Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (RTRC) in Agusan del Sur — the first to open in a military camp in Mindanao – was likewise opened last year. In addition, Philhealth, the government’s national health insurance program, now covers a two-week drug rehabilitation program reserved at P10,000 per member. It is unfortunate that international attention to the drug war in the Philippines centers on drug-related killings rather than the breakthroughs of the campaign. However, we appreciate the ex-Colombian president’s concerns and we encourage our people to see our situation in the light of comprehensive nation-building. |
|
|
| From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella on the Joint Statement of the Leftist Cabinet Members |
| We are pleased to hear that DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo, DAR Sec. Rafael Mariano and NAPC Lead Convenor Sec. Liza Maza will stay in the Cabinet despite the scrapping of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
The President chose them as his alter egos because he believes in their capacity to serve and deliver sustainable basic social services to the Filipino people. They all enjoy the President’s trust and confidence. We assure everyone that the government shall continue to pursue genuine socio-economic reforms to alleviate poverty and promote a just and lasting peace. The Duterte administration remains fully committed to the task of uniting our people and working with all sectors to achieve peace and inclusive development during its term. |
|
|
| Duterte approves Medal of Valor for remaining SAF 42 |
|
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed today, February 8, the approval of the conferment of the Philippine National Police Medal of Valor (Medalya ng Kagitingan) to the remaining 42 ill-fated Special Action Force (SAF) personnel, who died during the botched Mamasapano anti-terror raid in 2015. The Medal of Valor is the highest award that can be bestowed to a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The decision came in the wake of the second anniversary of the Mamasapano clash, following the promise made by the Chief Executive during the dialogue with the families of the SAF 44 personnel held in January at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan. During the dialogue, the President underscored the importance of recognizing the heroism of not only two but all of the 44 fallen policemen. It can be recalled that only two of the 44 SAF personnel were conferred with the Medal of Valor award in 2016, while the remaining 42 were merely given the PNP Distinguished Medal (Medalya ng Kabayanihan) award. “Bakit dalawa lang ang [Medal of] Valor? Eh lahat naman ‘yun namatay… So I am asking [PNP Director General Ronald] Dela Rosa to study the matter very carefully and look that up… Tutal nandiyan na ‘yung records, hindi naman kailangan mag-imbestiga-imbestiga. Look at the records of the Senate and everything. And if you think as a soldier that the 44 deserves the [Medal of] Valor, then recommend it and I would give it to them. All of the soldiers, the 44,” the President assured. Following the approval, the 42 SAF personnel award will be upgraded from the Medalya ng Kabayanihan to the Medal of Valor, which will be bestowed in recognition of their acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life and limb above and beyond the call of duty as members of the Main Effort 1 (ME1), 84th Special Action Company (Seaborne), Rapid Deployment Battalion, Main Effort 2 (ME2), 55th Special Action Company, and the 5th Special Action Battalion of the PNP SAF, respectively. The 42 SAF personnel who will receive the posthumous award were the following: PCINSP RYAN B PABALINAS These awardees now join the ranks of the two SAF personnel who were conferred with the award last year, Senior Insp. Gednat Tabdi and Police Officer 2 Romeo Cempron. ###Maro-Content |
|
|
