MANILA, Philippines — He doesn’t mean to brag but as far as President Rodrigo is concerned, only him and late dictator Ferdinand Marcos gave full attention to soldiers’ needs.
Duterte, who had drawn parallels with Marcos for his supposed strongman tendencies, made the remarks in his speech after giving medals to troops who took part in the liberation of Marawi City.
He said both him and Marcos are “lover of soldiers.”
“Hindi ako nagyayabang. Walang ibang presidente, dalawa lang, ang pagbigay na atensyon na kinakailangan para sa isang sundalo. Ako lang pati si Marcos,” Duterte told state forces stationed at Camp General Teodulfo Bautista in Sulu.
(I’m not bragging. Only two presidents really paid attention to the needs of soldiers. Only I and Marcos.)
Duterte, a hugely popular firebrand leader, has been criticized for his alleged penchant for authoritarianism given his extreme contempt for his dissidents.
But he had denied that, saying he was not happy being president.
Shortly after assuming office in June, Duterte visited military and police camps. He also repeatedly assured soldiers and policemen that they would receive a 100 percent increase in pay.
Meanwhile, Marcos was buried with military honors at the Heroes’ Cemetery in a surprise ceremony on Nov. 18, 2016, almost 30 years after his death in Hawaii. The interment triggered scattered protests around Manila.
READ: Marcos buried at Libingan in 'surprise' ceremony l Hero's burial for Marcos: How did we get here?
Thousands of suspected communist rebels and political enemies were killed after Marcos imposed martial law in 1972.
Accused of committing massive human rights violations and plundering billions of dollars from state coffers, Marcos was ousted by a bloodless “People Power Revolution” in 1986.
Despite the death of the dictator in exile in Hawaii in 1989, his family has been making a political comeback with his widow, Imelda and their children becoming powerful politicians in Ilocos Norte, his home province.
To own up to its faults, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which supported Marcos until the last days of his dictatorial rule, recognized the military's responsibility for the abuses committed during martial law in its 2005 Code of Ethics.
“The AFP recognizes and resolves to correct misdeeds of some of its members who sacrificed national interests for individual gains, committed graft and corruption, perpetuated the ill effects of martial law,” the military’s 2005 Code of Ethics read in part.
“These misdeeds tainted the good image of the organization," it added.