Duterte pledges new building, equipment for AFP Medical Center

Soliders recuperating at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City. By Jelly F. Musico and Keith Calayag STAR/file

MANILA, Philippines -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night promised P500 million for the construction of new state-of-the-art building, facilities and equipment for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.

"I promised it to you, state-of-the-art equipment. There will be changes," the president said after visiting wounded soldiers confined at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.

The president asked the AFP leadership and the soldiers to give him until December to finish the new building and provide the medical equipment.

He assured the troops that the bidding for the construction of the new building and purchase of the equipment will be free from rigging and delay.

"I don’t want the lowest bid because it is a source of corruption. I will talk to the COA (Commission on Audit). I will personally supervise the bidding. It will be a clean government," President Duterte said.

He also said that all military equipment, particularly firearms, should be of the best quality.

President Duterte said that “in the fullness of God’s time”, he would implement a program  to provide free education to the children of soldiers.

"Hindi ako nambobola. Matutupad iyan, free education," the president said.

He also promised that the government will pay soldiers a salary for three years after they retire from the service.

The president also said the release of the AFP and police benefits should be faster without making life difficult for the beneficiaries, particularly the widows of the killed soldiers and policemen.

"I don’t want to see the widow kept on coming back just to get the benefits. It’s not good," he said.

President Duterte said every AFP unit should have one anti-drug group that helps the government in its fight against anti-illegal drugs.

"We cannot build our country by killing our own citizens but we will not allow group of people to destroy you and our country. I cannot accept that,” Duterte said, telling the soldiers that the government has big task of dealing with 3.7 million drug dependents.

"Guys I’m your friend. I’m here to serve you. I’m also from ranks. I will not abandon you," he said.