Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday opposed the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to give Rolex watch to soldiers who served the country well, stressing that a Medal of Valor would be worth much more than a luxury wristwatch.
“To any soldier, a Medal of Valor is worth more than a hundred Rolex watches. Every soldier dreams of having one more than he dreams of owning a Rolex watch,” he said.
Lacson, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1971, said the Medal of Valor was rarely given since the opportunity for it would rarely arise.
He noted the Medal of Valor was rarely given, “not only because the feat itself that qualifies anybody from getting it is extraordinary, but more so, the opportunity very rarely arises.”
Earlier, the President promised to give luxury wristwatches to future awardees of the Medal of Valor.
The Medal of Valor is the highest military honor for his or her supreme self-sacrifice and distinctive acts of heroism and gallantry.
Under Republic Act 9049, awardees of the Medal of Valor are entitled to a lifetime monthly gratuity of P20,000, aside from the salary or pension they are getting.
Medal of Valor awardees, their widow/widowers or dependents are also entitled to privileges including precedence in employment in government agencies if they are qualified.
