Duterte says only two presidents—-he, Marcos—-“paid attention” to soldiers

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said only two presidents truly cared for soldiers: Ferdinand Marcos and him.

“Never was a time na walang ibang — hindi ako nagyayabang. Walang ibang presidente, dalawa lang, ang pagbigay na atensyon na kinakailangan para sa isang sundalo. Ako lang pati si Marcos,” he said, speaking before soldiers at a military camp in Barangay Busbus in Jolo, Sulu.

“Marcos was also a lover of soldiers,” he said.

He said he was willing to help the soldiers address their problems and would “give (them) all the tooks they need.”

“Because I really appreciate your service,” he said.

President Duterte has been very supportive of soldiers.

He promised to increase the base pay of the uniformed personnel, and has time and again, in his speeches, offered to help them with their problems.

When Marawi was overrun by local terrorists in May, he would make visits to the war-torn city so that he could show the soldiers fighting the war that he had their backs,according to him.