MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the reinstatement and spot promotion of Philippine Army Captain Jerome Jacuba, who was previously forced to retire after losing his sight in a grenade explosion while on duty.

In a video message on Monday, the President announced that Jacuba, earlier placed under a Complicated Disability Discharge (CDD) due to his injury, will be promoted to Major and reassigned to adaptive duties suited to his 15 years of military experience.

“Isang sundalo natin na nasaktan dahil sa sakripisyo niya, dahil ginagawa niya ang duty niya para ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas, ay basta pagka nasaktan, ay bibitawan na lang natin. Hindi naman tama ‘yun,” President Marcos said.

“Kaya gagawa po tayo ng bagong polisiya sa CDD sa lalong madaling panahon,” he added, stressing that the policy will apply to all soldiers injured in the line of duty.

“Ito ay para sa lahat ng ating mga sundalo na dahil sa ka-duty nila sila ay nasaktan, sila ay nagka-injury, ay dapat naman patuloy din ang ating pagkilala sa kanilang katapangan at sa kanilang sakripisyo,” he said.

The President recalled that Jacuba lost his sight after being hit by a grenade blast while on mission, yet was subsequently discharged from service.

“Kung nakita niyo po ang ating butihing kapitan ay nabulag dahil nasabugan po ng bomba. Nagdu-duty siya at ito ‘yung nangyari sa kanya. Ngunit pagkatapos siyang nabulag ay nabigyan siya ng tinatawag na CDD,” he said.

“Ibig sabihin, hindi na siya puwede sa military dahil nga hindi na siya puwede sa combat operation at nabulag na nga siya,” he added.

President Marcos said he instructed the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff to suspend Jacuba’s CDD and process his promotion, while directing the Department of National Defense to review and update existing disability discharge policies to prevent unfair release of soldiers injured in the line of duty.

“Kaya binigyan ko ng instruction ang ating Chief of Staff na isuspende na ‘yung CDD ni Captain Jacoba. Bukod pa dun, ay dapat bigyan siya ng promotion dahil sa katapangan niya at gawin na siyang major,” the President said.

He explained that his decision followed a review of Jacuba’s case after seeing a video of the officer.

“Nung 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,” President Marcos said.

The President emphasized that despite Jacuba’s blindness, he can still contribute meaningfully to the military.

“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 rin duty na pwedeng gawin ng isang sundalo, lalong-lalo na sa isang sundalo na may 15 years na experience. Maraming maidadagdag at maitutulong sa atin ‘yan,” he said.