President Duterte has asked his "brilliant" doctor friend based in the United States to return to the country and serve as a consultant for the country’s brave soldiers.
(JOEY DALUMPINES / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The President said he hopes Dr. Edward Lim, an orthopedic surgeon who earned his medical degree from the University of the Philippines, will provide a "little service" to the nation before he retires.
Duterte mentioned the possible consultancy job for Lim after promising to look after the welfare of soldiers, especially those wounded in the line of duty, during his visit to a military camp in Jolo, Sulu on Monday.
"I have a friend who is the chief of the Cincinnati Orthopedic Hospital. It has something to do with bones. Ito si Eddie Boy Lim is from Davao. Iyong General Motors nandiyan sa V. Luna, kanila 'yan (They own the General Motors along V. Luna). The guy is simply brilliant. Summa cum laude sa UP 'yan (He graduated summa cum laude at the University of the Philippines). Ang kapatid niyang babae, summa cum laude rin (His sister is also a summa cum laude). They are doctors," the President said before an assembly of soldiers in Jolo.
"Eddie Boy is practicing in the United States. I hope that if he comes home, I'd like him to just be a consultant or actually work for the soldiers," he added.
The President said Lim migrated to the United States but regularly visits the country.
Lim, an orthopedic surgery specialist based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is reportedly one of the personal doctors of the President.
"I'll try to talk to him and kung puwede ba (if it is possible) being a Filipino once upon a time kasi nag-migrate na, naging Amerikano (he migrated and became an American) if he can come back to do a little service before he retires para sa mga sundalo ko (for my soldiers)," he said.
The President, in the same remarks, promised to take care of the needs of the soldiers and their families. He said those wounded in action have nothing to worry since he would also look after their health needs.
He noted that he provides a monthly allocation of P50 million to the AFP Medical Center along V. Luna road Quezon City.
"If you are injured, lose a leg, do not worry. You will run faster. I’ll give you the titanium. It's a matter of sacrifice ‘yung pag-training (the training). After that, okay na 'yan. You can fight again," he said.
Duterte also offered to provide employment to soldiers if they are no longer fit for combat duty. He said the Department of National Defense has become a "huge employment agency" where he sends soldiers who have other skills to work.
"You know I’ll restore you to productivity," he said.
The commander-in-chief recalled that a blind soldier once embraced him after being grateful for landing a job at Camp Aguinaldo.
"Ngayon, he’s an expert sa computer sa Aguinaldo. And I am happy," Duterte said.