MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is eyeing unspecified “changes” in the military, saying the present setup has caused the deaths of many soldiers.

“There will be changes. I am not privileged to announce it, but there will be some changes in the organization,” Duterte said during the 35th anniversary of the Army Reserve Command in Cavite last Thursday. “It won’t be massive. The commanders would explain it to you… there has to be some changes. I am not comfortable anymore of the setup because it has caused a lot of my soldiers’ lives.”

Although he did not elaborate, Duterte announced his decision only days after an encounter between the military and the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu that left five soldiers dead.

He reiterated his promise to provide all soldiers with side arms so they could defend themselves when outside camp. “If the sidearm is taken away from you, it would be okay if you were able to kill two or three. But do not be stupid and allow them to take it from you behind your back,” he said in Filipino.

The President also lambasted a regulation prohibiting policemen not in uniform from carrying firearms.

“This is not an insult against the police. I am not referring to anyone. I think it’s really a very stupid regulation. If there is a stabbing incident, the police will say ‘sorry, I left my gun in Camp Crame.’ Do not do that ever again. Think, sleep on it. Check whether it is really stupid or not. You are putting a person’s life at risk,” Duterte added.

He also urged Congress to expedite the passage of the Reservist Employment Rights Act and a measure that would make mandatory the Reserve Officers Training corps for Grades 11 and 12 to “instill patriotism, love of country among our youth.”

Duterte honors soldiers

Two days after the anniversary of the Army Reserve Command, the Chief Executive honored the 23 soldiers who were wounded in recent clashes with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu.

He visited Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City and conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan on the injured soldiers.

He also gave them gun certificates and financial assistance.

The encounters with the Abu Sayyaf happened on Nov. 16 and 17 in Patikul, Sulu and left five soldiers dead.

?Conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu award with the Rank of Kampilan were 2Lt. Michael Vincent Benito; SSg. Rex Cureg; Sergeants Romeo Barbon, Jerson Barasi and Reynante Ruma; Corporals Geneus Calamlam, Bingbong Salvador, Felix Jay Castillo, Denver Lambino and Eugene Corpuz; PFCs London Longawis, Aldrin Paj-Dio, Kriel Manaligod, Jordan Magundayao, Ruben Bulayang, Harvie Soriano, Marnel Piduana, Sandoval Ludivico, John Paul Layugan and Gevil Lorenzo; and Privates Jayferson Balac, Jaime Boco Jr. and Rizalde Tierro.

Another soldier, Pvt. Murphy Cuntapay, was flown from Mindanao and is confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in Quezon City. The Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan is given to government personnel and private individuals who were wounded or suffered a significant loss of property as a result of their participation in an action supporting a campaign or advocacy of the president. Duterte also pledged P300 million for the construction of a new two-story hospital inside Camp Navarro. He said the hospital management could use the P27 million remaining fund initially earmarked for the new Camp Navarro General Hospital to buy medical equipment. – With Edith Regalado