President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday ordered the military and police officers to conduct daily drills that can be watched by the public, adding that he would ask his “rich” friends to donate cash prizes for those who will showcase the best moves.
The President issued the directive during the change of command rites of the Presidential Security Group at Malacañang Park where Army Col. Jesus Durante succeeded Brig. Gen. Jose Niembra as group commander.
“You guys can arrange the frequency of the drilling but I want the people to see soldiers and policemen doing the drill every day,” Duterte said.
“It gives our people a sense of security and proud to see the uniformity in the cadence when military drills do it,” he added.
He cited his many rich classmates and friends who could donate cash prizes, including “billionaire” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“I have so many rich friends. I have so many classmates who made it. One of them is Tugade. He’s a billionaire even before… Tell him [to give] one million [pesos],” Duterte said.
Under Niembra’s term, the PSG conducted the first Presidential Silent Drill Competition for training schools such as the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy.
Duterte said he was inspired to conduct a silent drill contest when he went to China and saw daily sundown drills.