Duterte to establish center for speedy release of military death benefits

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday again fascinated soldiers in the province, this time with a plan to establish a special outfit to facilitate speedy release of military death benefits.

Duterte revealed  his plan during a brief visit to the Army’s Camp Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao to commend eight Army personnel wounded on Sunday in an encounter in Midsayap, North Cotabato with Moro guerillas involved in large-scale drug trafficking.  

Two soldiers, Corporal Josel Miravalles and Private 1st Class Jaypee Duran, and PO3 Darwin Espallardo, were killed in the ensuing encounter, which started only as a joint police-Army operation meant to peacefully arrest Mukz Masgal, but turned haywire when he and his men resisted.

Masgal, also known as “Commander Madrox,” is facing 11 criminal cases in different courts in Central Mindanao.  

His group of about 50 men distributing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in North Cotabato’s Aleosan and Midsayap towns keeps military-type assault rifles, M-60 machineguns and shoulder fire anti-tank rockets.

Duterte said he is saddened by the difficulties besetting families of soldiers killed in line with duty as a consequence of the slow processing of compensation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of 6th ID, said they got elated with the president’s commitment, which is “fascinating” for the division’s rank-and-file personnel.

"That was a very good news. A very inspiring commitment from President Duterte," Petinglay said.

Duterte first drew praises from officers and enlisted personnel of 6th ID during his first visit to Camp Siongco on July 22 where he promised them “protection” from legal issues that may confront them while helping in the police’s crackdown on drug syndicates.

The president on Thursday told members of 6th ID he wants an office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to focus mainly on facilitating releases of death benefits and other terminal claims intended for beneficiaries.

“I want an AFP to have an office for claims of widows of soldiers,” he said.

Duterte’s plan spread through Central Mindanao fast enough through stations of the region’s most popular outfit, the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation, generating positive reactions from the local communities.

“I want my husband to retire from the military service alive but that promise is just as good and is laudable. There must be an easy `fallback’ for dependents of soldiers,” said Linda, mother of three and husband to an Army sergeant based in Lanao del Sur province.

A wife of a soldier who died of liver ailment in 2000, after having been wounded thrice in fierce clashes with Moro secessionist rebels while still in the military service, said she waited for three years to be fully paid of all benefits she was entitled to receive from the AFP.

“That promise of the president is very nice and worth supporting,” said the widow, who works in a non-government organization involved in peace-building programs in Central Mindanao.  

Duterte said he is ready to bankroll the setting up of his envisioned functional conduit for quick payment of military death claims.

Duterte said widows must not be burdened with the agony of delayed releases of benefits for the loss of husbands in keeping with a commitment to serve the nation as soldiers even to the point of losing their lives in the process.

The president’s visit to Camp Siongco Thursday was capped off with his awarding of merit medals to the eight soldiers wounded in last Sunday’s bungled joint police-Army anti-narcotics operation in North Cotabato province.

The wounded soldiers were 2nd Lt. Ruel Fortuna, Sergeant Antonio Grafil, Corporals Ronel Golez and Dio Cesar Española and Privates 1st Class Normel Grande, Cris John Figueroa, Edgar Gorgone and Romnick Clerigo, all of the 62nd Reconnaissance Company, a quick reaction rapid deployment unit of 6th ID.

Duterte also gave the two soldiers killed in the incident with special posthumous merit citations for exemplary service.