Marcos reinstates, promotes blinded soldier; Orders overhaul of disability discharge rules

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the reinstatement and spot promotion of a Philippine Army officer who was previously forced to retire after losing his sight in a grenade explosion while on duty.

In a video message on Monday, President Marcos announced that Captain Jerome Jacuba of the Philippine Army—earlier placed under a Complicated Disability Discharge (CDD) due to his injury—will be promoted to Major and reassigned to adaptive duties befitting his 15 years of military experience.

“Isang sundalo natin na nasaktan dahil sa sakripisyo niya, dahil ginagawa niya ang duty niya para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, ay basta pagka nasaktan, ay bibitawan na lang natin. Hindi naman tama ‘yun,” the President said.

“Kaya gagawa po tayo ng bagong polisiya sa CDD sa lalong madaling panahon,” the President stressed.

The Commander-in-Chief emphasized that the new policy will apply to all soldiers injured in the line of duty.

“Ito ay para sa lahat ng ating mga sundalo na dahil sa ka-duty nila sila ay nasaktan, sila ay nagka-injury, ay dapat naman patuloy din ang ating pagkilala sa kanilang katapangan at sa kanilang sakripisyo,” the Commander-in-Chief said.

The President recalled that Jacuba lost his sight after being hit by a grenade blast while on mission, yet was subsequently discharged from service.

“Kung nakita niyo po ang ating butihing kapitan ay nabulag dahil nasabugan po ng bomba. Nagdu-duty siya at ito ‘yung nangyari sa kanya. Ngunit pagkatapos siyang nabulag ay nabigyan siya ng tinatawag na CDD,” said the President.

“Ibig sabihin, hindi na siya puwede sa military dahil nga hindi na siya puwede sa combat operation at nabulag na nga siya,” the President added.

President Marcos said he has instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff to suspend Jacuba’s CDD and process his promotion, while also directing the Department of National Defense to review and update existing disability discharge policies to ensure no soldier injured in the line of duty is unfairly released from service.

“Kaya binigyan ko ng instruction ang ating Chief of Staff na isuspende na ‘yung CDD ni Captain Jacoba. Bukod pa dun, ay dapat bigyan siya ng promotion dahil sa katapangan niya at gawin na siyang major,” he said.

The President explained that he decided to act after seeing a video of Jacuba and reassessing the circumstances of his case.

“Nung nakita ko ‘yung video niya at pinag-isipan ko ‘yung mga nangyari sa kanya ay parang hindi tama. Dahil ito ay isang opisyal na itinaya na nga niya ang buhay niya para sa duty niya para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, at dahil sa ganyan ay basta’t bibitawan na lang natin. Hindi naman yata makatarungan yan,” President Marcos said.

The President underscored that despite Jacuba’s loss of vision, he can still meaningfully contribute to the military, especially given his years of service and expertise.

“Maghanap tayo ng mga iba’t ibang posisyon na puwede pa naman siya ‘yung ating mga tinatawag na the major adaptive duties. Kasi kahit nabulag na po, marami pa rin duty na pwedeng gawin ng isang sundalo, lalong-lalo na sa isang sundalo na may 15 years na experience. Maraming maidadagdag at maitutulong sa atin ‘yan,” President Marcos added

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