Do soldiers really need to wear luxury watches?
Netizens are fuming after President Rodrigo Duterte told soldiers in Agusan del Sur on Saturday that he will give Rolexes to those who will be awarded the Medal of Valor, the army’s highest honor.
Duterte said this while addressing the 401st and 402nd Infantry (Unity) Brigades of the Philippine Army (PA) in the town of Prosperidad, reported the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
GMA News reported that he said in a mix of Filipino and English: “I don’t wear that (Rolex) but if you get the [Medal of] Valor, all of you will get a Rolex. That’s for sure.”
In 2017, the Philippine Star reported that Duterte said he rejected a Rolex that was given to him by a businessman for his birthday. The anonymous gift giver, however, refused to take it back.
The Inquirer said that the president was so pleased with the performance of the two brigades in their campaign against the communist insurgency and illegal drugs that he gave each group PHP100,000 (more than US$1,849) as a reward.
ABS-CBN News quoted him saying: “Each brigade will get . . . we’ll give you PHP100,000 each so that you can treat yourselves when you go back to the camp.”
Duterte also commended the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command for a “wonderful performance,” the same report stated.
In January, the president approved a pay hike for members of the military, CNN Philippines reported.
However, netizens were not amused by Duterte’s Rolex promise to the soldiers.
Twitter user @MoxieLi said it was a form of “bribery.”
Tagging the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) account, he wrote in a mix of English and Filipino: “Wow, the way he promised it’s as if it was his money. That’s from the country. Not that [I] won’t give soldiers their fair pay. But a ROLEX (sic)?? Bribery much @TeamAFP so that you’ll stay quiet over Duterte’s incompetence and murderous ways….”
Wow kung makapangako, pera niya???? Pera ng bayan yan eh. Not that i wont give soldiers their fair pay. But a ROLEX?? Bribery much @TeamAFP?? para manahimik kayo sa kapalpakan at pagpatay ni Duterte ba yan….
— MrsHan (@MoxieLi) September 30, 2018
@josnar_dionzon said the president should give the soldiers affordable housing instead.
The cost Rolex Submariner Men’s Automatic Watch is almost 400k, why not gift them with affordable house and lot? Why Rolex? Duterte might be thinking of MilSub or Military Issue Rolex Submariner.
— Josnar Dionzon (@josnar_dionzon) September 30, 2018
@soberamanpour accused alumni of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and ex-generals of sucking up to the president.
Apparently, for many PMA alumni and ex-generals now occupying plum posts under the Duterte regime, sporting gold Rolex watches, piggybacking on overseas junkets, and smooching Duterte’s ass bear greater weight than honor. So there you go.
— Liza Soberamanpour (@soberamanpour) September 26, 2018
The PMA is the country’s version of the United States’ West Point, where members of the AFP train and study.
But some, like Facebook user Jolo Barberan, also came to Duterte’s defense.
He wrote in a mix of English and Filipino: “Is it easy to get the Medal of Valor for you to say that it (Rolex) is a bribe? Think. Can’t you just say it’s a reward?”
Guess for some, the president can still do no wrong.
