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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM orders return of Army captain blinded in action back to service, promotes him to major

PBBM orders return of Army captain blinded in action back to service, promotes him to major

Published Dec 1, 2025 05:40 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos Facebook)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Bongbong Marcos Facebook)
President Marcos gave an on-the-spot promotion to an Army officer, who was blinded in a bomb explosion, and reversed a military policy that would have discharged him from military service.
In a video message on Monday, Dec. 1, Marcos announced the cancellation of Philippine Army Captain Jerome Jacuba's Complete Disability Discharge (CDD), a status granted to military personnel separated or retired from service due to physical or mental disability.
Marcos said he made the decision after seeing the video of the blinded Jacuba, with his daughter by side, signing off from 15 years of service due to his injury.
The President said Jacuba lost his vision when he was hit by a bomb while on duty. After getting injured, he was granted CDD, which meant he could no longer serve in the military because he is no longer fit for combat operations.
In Jacuba's video, he proudly said he did not have any regret losing his sight because he had done so in the service of his country. And if given a chance to regain his sight, he would readily give this for this country.
By his side was his young daughter as Jacuba said he was going to return to caring for his family after his discharged from the military.
Marcos found the circumstances that befell him as unfair, and not fit for an honorable soldier like Jacuba.
"Noong nakita ko yung video niya at pinag-isipan ko yung mga nangyari sa kanya, ay parang hindi tama. Dahil ito ay isang opisyal na itinaya na nga niya ang buhay niya para sa duty niya para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, at dahil sa ganyan ay basta't bibitawan na lang natin. Hindi naman yata makatarungan ‘yan (When I saw his video and thought about what happened to him, it seemed wrong. Because he officially risked his life for his duty to defend the Philippines, and just because of that, we would simply let it go. That doesn’t seem fair)," Marcos stressed.
"Kaya binigyan ko ng instruction ang ating Chief of Staff na isuspende na yung CDD ni Captain Jacuba. Bukod pa doon, ay dapat bigyan siya ng promotion dahil sa katapangan niya at gawin na siyang major (So I gave instructions to our Chief of Staff to suspend Captain Jacuba’s CDD. In addition to that, he should be given a promotion for his bravery and be made a major)," he stressed.
"At maghanap tayo ng mga iba't ibang posisyon na puwede pa naman siya yung ating mga tinatawag na the major adaptive duties. Kasi kahit nabulag na po, marami pa ring duty na puwedeng gawin ng isang sundalo, lalong-lalo na sa isang sundalo na may 15 years na experience. Maraming maidadagdag at maitutulong sa atin ‘yan (And let’s look for different positions that he can still take on, what we call the major adaptive duties. Because even if he has somewhat lost his sight, there are still many duties a soldier can perform, especially a soldier with 15 years of experience. That can add a lot and be very helpful to us)," Marcos further said.
The case of Jacuba prompted the President to order the Department of National Defense (DND) to revisit the existing CDD policy, suggesting to give other duties to injured soldiers during operations, rather than retiring them.
"In-instruction ko rin ang ating Secretary of National Defense na pag-aralan ulit itong polisiya natin para hindi naman mangyari ulit ito na ang isang sundalo natin na nasaktan dahil sa sakripisyo niya, dahil ginagawa niya ang duty niya para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, ay basta pagka nasaktan, ay basta bibitawan na lang natin (I have also instructed our Secretary of National Defense to review this policy so that what happened does not happen again—where one of our soldiers was injured because of his sacrifice, because he was performing his duty to defend the Philippines, and yet, when he got hurt, he would just be left behind)," Marcos said.
"Hindi naman tama yun. Kaya gagawa po tayo ng bagong polisiya sa CDD sa lalong madaling panahon (That is not right. That is why we will create a new policy on CDD as soon as possible)," Marcos added.
The President said the move is for all soldiers who get injured while on duty, stressing that "their injuries should not stop us from continuing to recognize their bravery and their sacrifice."

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President Marcos DND Captain Jerome Jacuba Complete Disability Discharge
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