Duterte sets up P50-B education fund for soldiers’ kids

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte is setting up a P50-billion trust fund for the education of children of soldiers.

“If I can have a P50-billion trust fund para lang sa edukasyon ng mga anak ninyo (just for the education of your children), even if you fight or you are somewhere else in this universe, sagot na ang edukasyon lang, ha (education is assured, only education)... So, wala kayong problema (you won’t have any problem). I have already 50 – the 20 of the 50 billion. Maski interes na ’yan (Even if it’s just the interest),” the President told soldiers in a pep talk in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Friday afternoon.

Duterte said he has found the source for the initial P20-billion fund.

“If I could have reached P50 billion, sobra-sobra na ’yan (that’s a lot). So, ’yan ang maasahan ninyo (that’s what you can count on),” he said.

The President likewise vowed to give the military the best equipment. For those in Jolo and in Cagayan, he said he has already completed it.

“You have a new building at the AFP Medical – MRI, basic to fight the infection. You have all the equipment now and you will have the best of everything,” he added. 

Duterte said he would do everything to make sure that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would be much better equipped when he steps down from office in five years’ time.

He pointed out, though, that what is important is that the soldiers are fighting for a principle, even telling the soldiers not to fear martial law and that they just have to do their job.

US envoy mourns Marawi deaths

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim yesterday joined the country in mourning for the Filipino soldiers who died during the ongoing clashes in Marawi City.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the brave AFP soldiers who gave their lives in Marawi to protect the nation they served so proudly,” Kim said in a Twitter post.

He issued the statement following the death of 10 soldiers accidentally killed by a military air strike on Wednesday.

At least 26 others from the government side have been killed since the start of clashes in Marawi City in May 23.

The US, which has issued a travel advisory following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, has turned over various equipment to the military to support their anti-terrorism campaign.