President Duterte Gives His Own Wrist Watch to Soldier in Bukidnon, Sen Trillanes Reacts

President Rodrigo Duterte gave his own personal wrist watch to a soldier when he visited the troops of the 403rd Infantry Brigade (403rd Bde), 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army at Camp Bahian in Barangay Impalambong, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon last Thursday, July 6. However, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV could not help but react.



According to a post at Communications (Government of the Philippines) Facebook page last Friday, the lucky soldier who received President Duterte's watch is Private First Class Elrin Candole. And although there was no given reason as to why the president gave his watch, it is assumed that the solider has no wrist watch of his own.

Apparently, there is also no information on the details of the said wrist watch. However, many netizens believe that it the same Panerai watch that President Duterte has been wearing in various occasions. One of them was on November 3, 2016, when he welcomed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari in Malacanang.

Comparing the photo of President Duterte embracing Misuari and the photo where the president gave his wrist watch to Pfc. Candole, it appears that it is the same Panerai watch, which is believed to be worth around $5,000, or roughly P253,000 based on the current foreign exchange rate. Nevertheless, President Duterte gave it to a soldier just like that.

Meanwhile, Sen. Trillanes did not find President Duterte's humility as amusing as many netizens do. According to the Liberal Party (LP) inclined senator, the president did not give his wrist watch willingly. Instead, he said that the Commander in-chief wanted it to be disposed so that he can avoid it to be used as evidence of his alleged hidden wealth and corruption.



“Saan galing yung relos? May kakayahan ba ang sweldo nya bilang mayor? O may nagbigay sa kanya bilang regalo dahil may hininging kapalit yung nagbigay? Kaya nya ba ipinamigay para wala nang ebidensya?” Sen. Trillanes, a known critic of President Duterte since the election campaign period, told reporters in an ambush interview last Saturday.

Contributed by Renato Pasayao