Friday, May 5, 2017

Duterte promises more benefits for soldiers killed in line of duty

From the Philippine Star (May 6): Duterte promises more benefits for soldiers killed in line of duty



 In this April 6, 2017 file photo shows President Rodrigo Duterte rendering a salute to one of the 28 wounded soldiers he awarded with medals at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo town, Sulu. Philstar.com/Roel Pareño, File photo
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday promised police personnel in five southern provinces support to beef up performance and free schooling for dependents if killed in action.
 
Duterte was at Camp SK Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao Friday afternoon for a security briefing by Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the Regional Police Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM).

Duterte also had a brief traditional “talk to the men” dialogue with personnel of the ARMM police at the parade ground of Camp SK Pendatun. The camp is the regional command center in the autonomous region of the Philippine National Police.

Friday’s official engagement of the president with officers and rank-and-file personnel of PRO-ARMM was his first since his election in May 2016.

He told them widows or parents of unmarried policemen or policewomen killed in line with duty shall automatically receive benefits from the government.
 
He said their dependents are also assured of full education scholarships to ensure they are to have a good future.

“Your children are assured of education and your spouses will receive insurance benefits immediately. That’s automatic,” Duterte told personnel of PRO-ARMM.

He acknowledged the peculiar working situation of the personnel of PRO-ARMM owing to the presence in the region of armed drug lords and troublesome extremist blocs such as the Maute terror group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The president drew a loud applause from ARMM's police personnel when he promised them enough logistical support to boost their law-enforcement operations in the region.

He asked them to just wait patiently for the logistics and benefits earmarked for every member of the regional police command.

The ARMM covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, which are both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Duterte’s dialogue with PRO-ARMM personnel was preceded by his awarding of merit medals to senior police officers involved in successful anti-narcotics operation in recent months.

He and Sindac also facilitated the release of certificates of course completion to teams of policemen who have just completed a motorcycle patrol course jointly handled by PRO-ARMM officials and their counterparts in the Regional Highway Patrol Group.

Duterte said he want members of PRO-ARMM fully equipped when they go out to address threats from terrorists in the region.

He said he has a plan to put up an endowment fund for families of police personnel killed while enforcing law and order anywhere in the autonomous region.

“By the time I leave the presidency I would have invested so many billions for the trust fund for law enforcement personnel,” Duterte said.

Sindac said he is grateful to the president for visiting Camp SK Pendatun to commit support to PRO-ARMM.

“The father of the land is so humble and inspiring. That is why we respect and love him,” Sindac told The STAR in a text message Saturday morning.
 

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