Fate of Jerome ‘Captain Blind’ Jacuba triggers reform in AFP disability policy

However, his story sparked a reform that is now reshaping how the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) treats its wounded personnel.

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Jacuba, known as “Captain Blind” on social media, lost his sight in a combat operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway component of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), nine years ago.

On March 2, 2016, Jacuba and his comrades in the Philippine Army (PA) were on a security operation in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded and shattered his right eye while leaving his left eye barely able to perceive light.

He was admitted to the V. Luna General Hospital, the premier medical facility of the AFP, for treatments and rehabilitation. There, he learned Braille and mastered screen-reader software just to function again.

He refused to fade into the background and even ran in military charity events, trained in adaptive technology, and pushed himself back into relevance.