PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday the P50 billion he promised to finance the education of all soldiers’ children might be compromised by the ongoing Marawi crisis.
The military is trying to flush out the IS-aligned Maute terrorists from Marawi, where they started an attack more than a month ago in an effort to claim territory.
But in his speech during the 120th anniversary of the Presidential Security Group, Duterte said he would try to make good on his promise.
“Let me assure you [that] there will be a P50-billion trust fund for you. I do have this P20-[billion] already, but I won’t say what will be the transaction,” Duterte said.
“As I’ve flaunted before, I’ve already seen the source of [the] funds. Even [Finance Secretary Carlos] Dominguez [has] already agreed. It’s already ready, but then this [Marawi crisis] happened. So the fund might be compromised but anyway, do not worry.”
Duterte had earlier said that P20 billion had already been set aside for the education fund, while the P30-billion balance would be raised in the next five years.
He did not specify where the money would come from but said the amount would be deposited in banks to earn interest.
In the same speech, Duterte joked that the P50 billion would cover even the soldiers’ lovers and second wives.
“In the fullness of God’s time, kung buhayin niya ako, balik tayo sa square one but in my time, ‘yan ang pangako ko sa inyo. Lahat ng kailangan ninyo, lahat ng medisina, lahat. pwede kayong magbaon ibang asawa. All forgiven. ‘Wag mo lang paanakan. I am just joking,” he said.
