Marcos orders review of benefits for disabled soldiers

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech for the Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor ceremonies in Mt. Samat, Bataan, on Tuesday April 9, 2024. Photo from RTV Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines — On the Day of Valor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered government agencies to study prevailing benefits for permanently disabled soldiers.

Marcos celebrated the 82nd Anniversary of the Day of Valor at Mt. Samat in Bataan on Tuesday, April 9. Other government officials and diplomats joined him, including United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya.

In a speech, the President recalled the horrors endured by Filipino soldiers during World War II when Bataan fell to Japanese troops.

“The sacrifices of our heroes must galvanize us and strengthen our national consciousness, our patriotic spirit,” Marcos said.

READ: Marcos to Filipinos: ‘Stand by our freedoms’ amid ‘foul forces’

“The present-day armed forces continue this duty of safeguarding our nation’s security and our sovereignty, and in recognition of their bravery and sacrifices, I am directing the defense, budget, and finance departments to study the existing separation benefits of soldiers, who incurred total permanent disability in the line of duty, to see if these are commensurate to the sacrifices that they have made, and submit their recommendation while taking stock of the national government’s position,” he also said.

In the same speech, Marcos likewise ordered the Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines to assess and submit a report on the military’s equipment.

READ: Marcos OKs military’s P2-trillion wish list for weapons, equipment

In a Day of Valor message earlier released by Malacañang, the President urged Filipinos to “ stand by our cherished freedoms and principles” amid “foul forces” threatening the country.

He said that while this day signifies a loss for the country when Bataan fell to Japanese troops during World War II, it also demonstrates how the Philippines could rise again.

“Foul forces continue to threaten us outside and within, endangering the hard-fought gains we made for our country. There are times when our struggles seem too complex or too daunting,” he said.

“Still, it is precisely during those moments that we must stand by our cherished freedoms and principles, perform our tasks with utmost dedication and diligence, and fight fiercely for a better life and a brighter future,” he added.