Duterte creates award for supporters of war on drugs

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte yesterday signed Executive Order 17, creating the Order of Lapu-Lapu that will recognize the contribution of government officials and private individuals to support his advocacies against corruption, illegal drugs and criminality.

Duterte signed EO 17 a few weeks after he made a fuss about how Lapu-Lapu’s role in history has been relegated to a fish.

“The President has pursued a wide array of campaigns and advocacies on various issues, such as suppression of illegal drugs and illegal gambling, protection of the environment and eradication of graft and corruption,” the order read.

“The Order of Lapu-Lapu is hereby created and shall be awarded to officials and personnel of the government, as well as to private individuals, in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President,” it added.

The President shall confer the Order of Lapu-Lapu upon recommendation of a committee to be comprised by the representative of the Office of the Executive Secretary, who shall act as chairman, and two representatives from the Presidential Management Staff as members.

In all cases, the nominees shall be recommended by the heads of agencies involved in the activities.

The Lapu-Lapu Medal will be given to individuals who become instrumental in achieving the President’s “desired developmental outcomes for the nation.”

The Order of Lapu-Lapu may be awarded posthumously to any person entitled to it. The award shall be received by the awardee’s legal heirs. 

“If there is no legal heir, the nearest of kin shall receive the award. If there is no legal heir or nearest of kin, any person designated by the President may receive such award on behalf of the awardee,” the order said.

Last month, Duterte ordered his team to review Philippine history to give credit to Lapu-Lapu, who fought the Spaniards. 

Duterte said Filipinos should give credit to Lapu-Lapu instead of glorifying Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522, resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Magellan did not complete the entire voyage, as he was killed by Lapu-Lapu during the Battle of Mactan in Cebu in 1521.