President Rodrigo Duterte has called on the members of the Philippine Army and all branches of the military to continue helping the administration’s drive against illegal drugs.
The call was made during the celebration of the 120th Anniversary of the Philippine Army at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
Being the commander-in-chief, the President can tap the military in the conduct of law enforcement operations by granting them police powers, if he deems it necessary.
Duterte also said earlier he was fortunate to have been empowered by the executive order of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo raising the level of the drug menace to a national security threat.
This, he said, would entitle him to use the AFP in the fight against illegal drugs.
In his speech during the event, the President said that since the establishment of the Philippine Army 120 years ago, “our history is replete with tales of our soldiers’ great sacrifices and significant victories to best protect our people and our national sovereignty.”
He promised continuous support to the members of Philippine Army saying that he current administration has been providing telecommunication apparatus, firepower and infantry fighting vehicles to the Army in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.
The administration has allocated almost P6.5 billion for Philippine Army projects under the Revised AFP Modernization Plan to procure individual equipment such as rifles, pistols, grenade launchers and force protection armors.
The President also recalled that he signed an Executive Order last September increasing the combat pay of soldiers from P500 to P3,000 per month and their combat incentive pay from P150 to P300 a day.
The Department of Budget and Management is also working on the proposed compensation adjustment to increase the base and hazard pays of military personnel, Duterte said.
He said the GSIS will also study the possibility of having a housing loan program that will complement the soldier’s ability to pay, noting that soldiers are more confident to perform their mandate if their loved ones are well-sheltered.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/231491378187/duterte-calls-on-ph-army-for-continues-help-in-drive-against-illegal-drugs
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