Days after promising Rolex, Duterte gives own watch to soldier
MANILA, Philippines — Barely three days after he promised to give Rolex watches to soldiers for future acts of valor, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday personally gave one army member in Northern Samar his own watch.
The soldier is a member of the 803rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, members of which were honored during Duterte's visit at Camp Juan Ponce Sumuroy in Catarman, Northern Samar.
In a video of the event provided by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, it can be seen that the soldier, who was not named, was called by the president among the ranks.
During their conversation, Duterte removed his watch, showed it to the soldier and personally put in on his wrist.
It was not clear what the brand of the watch was, but in March last year, Duterte claimed to have received a Rolex gold watch as a birthday gift. He claimed to have tried to return it, but when the unnamed sender did not accept it back, he said he would just sell it at a discount.
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Rolex watches cost between P300,000 to around P1 million, depending on the type.
Last Saturday, Duterte also visited a military camp in Prosperidad, in his hometown in Davao City, where he promised giving them Rolex watches each for their future accomplishments.
During that visit, the commander-in-chief gave out P100,000 each to the 401st and 402nd Infantry Brigades for securing Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur provinces, respectively, from illegal drugs and communist rebels.
"Here is P100,000 for your blowout when you go back to your camp," Duterte said.
"If all of you commit acts of valor, you will all get Rolex," he added.
Duterte was seen wearing a black watch during his visit to Camp Datu Lipus Makapandong in Prosperidad last Saturday that looks like the one he gave to the soldier on Tuesday.
Since taking office in July 2016, Duterte has tried to appease the military by telling them they will be protected from charges on their performance of duty as well as increasing their salaries and allowances.
His latest cash pay-out as well as the promise of a Rolex watch comes just weeks after he dared the military to throw him out of office through coup d'etat amid then government efforts to put back Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former military man, to jail.
Trillanes is currently questioning before the courts Duterte's Proclamation 572 that nullified his amnesty given in 2011 for rebellion and coup d'etat charges. He is out on bail for a revived rebellion charge before the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150.
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