Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Promoted to AFP Colonel, Sen Trillanes Reacts

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte was promoted to Colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Corps. The donning was hosted by AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero this Wednesday, February 28, and was held at the Davao City Hall But shortly after, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV reacted on Inday Sara’s promotion.

As posted by AFP Reserve Command (AFP RESCOM) Commander Brig. Gen. Leoncio Agudo Cirunay Jr. on Facebook, Col Edgar Crisanto Violan and Col Isidro Ungab were also promoted along with Inday Sara. The presidential daughter was elected as mayor of Davao City twice, in 2010 and 2016, and as the city vice mayor from 2007 to 2010.

Loading...

Based on the rules of AFP RESCOM, licensed physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, lawyers and chaplains can be promoted to Colonel after she underwent the officer orientation program. Inday Sara (who is also a lawyer) recently faced the members of the Commission on Appointments (CA), and passed the confirmation.

Meanwhile, Sen. Trillanes congratulated Col. Inday Sara Duterte. In an ambush interview on the same day, the Liberal Party (LP) ally senator said he is happy with the additional ranks in the Philippine Army. However, he expressed doubts on how the presidential daughter can lead an army of soldiers in case there’s a need to do her job as colonel.

“Syempre, masaya tayo na nadagdagan ang mga Pilipinong may kakayahang magtanggol sa ating bayan kung sakaling kailangan. Hindi ko naman minamaliit ang kakayahan ni Inday Sara, pero sapat na kaya ang kanyang karanasan at natutunan? O nadaan lang sa koneksyon kaya siya na-promote?” Sen. Trillanes told reporters.

(Of course, I’m happy that there are more Filipinos who can defend our country if needed. I’m not belittling Inday Sara’s capabilities, but is her experience and knowledge enough? Or was she promoted because of her ‘connections’?)



“Sigurado ako, marunong siya gumamit ng baril. Syempre, yung tatay ba naman niya ay experto dyan, at umamin pa nga na nakapatay na siya. Pero kaya kaya niya mamuno ng mga sundalo pag nilusob na naman tayo ng mga terorista o may mag kudeta? May karapatan akong magtanong kasi galling tayo diyan, di ba?” The soldier-turned politician added.

(I’m sure she knows how to use a gun. Of course, her father is an expert on that, and even admitted that he has already killed someone. But can she lead the soldiers in case a terrorist group attack us, or if there’s a coup d etat? I have the right to ask because I have been there, right.)

Contributed by Renato Pasayao