Marcos halts Army officerโs disability discharge, orders promotion instead
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to suspend the Complicated Disability Discharge (CDD) issued to an Army officer who was permanently blinded in the line of duty, saying soldiers injured while serving the country should not be โdiscarded.โ
The President intervened in the case of Captain Jerome Jacuba, who lost his sight during an operation while on active military duty.
Despite his disability, the Army moved to process his discharge under the Complicated Disability Discharge, a mechanism that allows the AFP to separate personnel whose injuries render them unfit for further service.
A CDD is typically issued when a soldier acquires a severe physical or medical condition that significantly limits their ability to perform military functions. Once approved, it leads to separation from service and entitlement to disability benefits, but also effectively ends the soldierโs military career.
Marcos said that should not be the outcome for Jacuba.
โHindi 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,โ Marcos said.
The President directed AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner to stop the discharge process. He also recommended that Jacuba be promoted to major, citing his courage and sacrifice in combat.
Marcos said the AFP must ensure that wounded soldiers are not only compensated but also honored and supported, stressing that Jacubaโs case should set a precedent for how the military treats injured personnel.
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