Party-list solon criticizes Duterte EO for police and military’s social benefits

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Sunday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of an order institutionalizing the social benefits program for police and military personnel killed or wounded in operations.

Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Eufemia Cullamat said the government should instead focus on helping frontliners and poor communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic that continues to threaten the country.

“Ang laki ng krisis na hinaharap natin ngayon dahil sa COVID-19, nagpalabas pa si Pres. Duterte ng Executive Order na nagpapakitang mayroon siyang paboritong anak sa pamilya, at ‘yun ang mga militar hindi ang taong bayan na naghihirap,” Cullamat said in a statement.

According to Cullamat, P379.4 billion was already allocated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for 2020.

“Dapat ibigay nila itong mga benipisyo sa mga maralita at lalo na sa mga health workers at frontliners natin ngayon na humaharap para sugpuin ang pandemiko ng COVID-19,” she said.

The party-list lawmaker then urged Duterte to hasten the provision of assistance to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nakapabilis niya maglabas ng EO para sa militar at pulis ngunit ang tagal niyang magbigay ng ayuda para sa mga taong nagugutom dahil sa lockdown at walang trabaho,” Cullamat said.

“Hindi dapat siya maglaban-bawi sa kanyang pinagsasabi. Hindi ganyan ang isang tunay na lider. Nagugutom na ang mga tao.Ibigay na ang ayuda sa kanila,” the lawmaker added.

Executive No. 110 directs the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to implement the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP).

EO 110 states that CSBP shall provide for different types of benefits and assistance to the police and military, such as but not limited to special financial assistance, scholarship assistance, social welfare assistance, health and medical care assistance, shelter assistance, and employment assistance.

Uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire and Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit are also included in the CSBP.

KGA