By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Consistent with his strong support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the reinstatement and spot promotion of an Army officer who previously lost his sight in a grenade explosion while on duty.
In a video message on Monday, President Marcos announced that Captain Jerome Jacuba of the Philippine Army—earlier placed under a Complicated Disability Discharge (CDD) due to his injury—will be promoted to Major and reassigned to adaptive duties befitting his 15 years of military experience.
The President said, noting Jacuba’s 15-year stint as uniformed personnel, “Isang sundalo natin na nasaktan dahil sa sakripisyo niya, dahil ginagawa niya ang duty niya para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, ay basta pagka nasaktan, ay bibitawan na lang natin. Hindi naman tama ‘yon.”
He likewise promised reforms for the CDD policy in the soonest possible time, which would benefit all soldiers injured in their line of duty moving forward.
Marcos Jr.’s initiative reaffirms his high regard for the hard work and sacrifices performed by uniformed personnel in exercising their duties to maintain peace and order across the country.
President Marcos Jr. said he has instructed the AFP Chief of Staff to suspend Jacuba’s CDD and process his promotion, while also directing the Department of National Defense to review and update existing disability discharge policies to ensure no soldier injured in the line of duty is unfairly released from service.
The Commander-in-Chief concluded his video message by noting that Jacuba’s case should serve as an example to other soldiers who sustained severe injuries during combat operations, not to lose hope as the government remains firm in its resolve to look after the stewards of the nation’s sovereignty.
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