Duterte:  Gov’t to support kin of Navy man killed in anti-drug ops

In this Aug. 6, 2016 file photo, President Rodrigo Duterte tells soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu, he’s working on increasing soldiers’ pay and benefits. The President wants to tap the help of the AFP in the war on drugs. (CDN FILE PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

MANILA — President Duterte expressed on Wednesday, his condolences to the wife and son of Navy Petty Officer 3 Darwin Espallardo and assured them that the government would provide for their needs.

Espallardo was killed along with five other soldiers in an anti-drug operation against a man identified as Commander Madrox, whom Navy officials described as a “primary” drug dealer, in Barangay Nabalawag in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

President Duterte has announced that Cleofe Espallardo and 16-year-old Dwyndyll John Espallardo will receive P250,000 from the President’s Social Fund from where the burial expenses will also be settled.

Duterte also said that Espallardo’s teenage son would be given free college education, something that the President said should also be given to all the children of policemen and soldiers who were either killed or still alive.

Espallardo is the first Navy man killed in Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

Asked to assess his first 50 days in office, Duterte said, “I would just say I’m trying my very best. I do not claim any great success. I am paid so I work. I got elected and I give the people what they want. They want a drug-free, graft-free government, they will get it.”  SFM