WATCH: Emotional President Duterte meets blind soldier in AFP medical center

<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte himself was moved to tears upon meeting a young blind soldier at a military hospital on Tuesday, August 2.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="444" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/53xstVXoyfA" width="693"></iframe></center> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jerome Jacuba was just one of the 69 patients at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center who came face-to-face with Duterte.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jerome Jacuba is hugged by President Duterte who himself becomes emotional. The 28-year-old 2nd lieutenant was blinded when shrapnel exploded near his eyes in early March.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacuba could not keep his emotions at bay as the President approached him.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After Duterte saluted him and shook his hand, he pulled Jacuba into a long hug. The soldier was shaking with emotion but the President too was moved. Duterte had tears in his eyes and sniffled after the hug.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacuba is a 28-year-old 2nd lieutenant who was blinded when shrapnel exploded near his eyes during a clearing operation in early March in Bgy Datu Salita in Maguindanao, said army doctor William Recuenco.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The blast, which came from an improvised explosive device or IED, caused his right eye to rupture and damaged his left eye.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All Jacuba can see now are light impressions.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recuenco says Jacuba has no chance of being able to see again. He is now learning how to read Braille.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacuba, an exemplary officer, is awaiting promotion to the rank of first lieutenant.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His experience highlights the extraordinary risks taken by the country's soldiers, risks Duterte never forgets to mention when he speaks in front of troops.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The AFP Medical Center is the second military health care facility Duterte has visited in two weeks.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He has also closely interacted with soldiers wounded in action in the Western Mindanao Command's hospital in Zamboanga City.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Duterte has dropped by 6 military camps in 9 days, giving pep talk-style speeches in front of troops and meeting with military officials.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During these visits, he consistently declared his devotion to the armed forces and vowed to give them all the support they need.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/141733-duterte-blind-soldier-afp-medical-center" target="_blank">Rappler</a></span>

AFP Medical Center Jerome Jacuba Local News Rodrigo Duterte Video WATCH: Emotional President Duterte meets blind soldier in AFP medical center

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte himself was moved to tears upon meeting a young blind soldier at a military hospital on Tues...

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