ZAMBOANGA CITY–President Rodrigo Duterte conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Kampilan on 14 soldiers who were wounded in a recent clash with Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Sulu, a military official said Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the 14 awardees were among the 17 soldiers who were wounded in a clash with more or less 100 ASG bandits headed by ASG senior leader Radullan Sahiron on September 14 in Barangay Bakong, Patikul, Sulu.
Besana earlier said that the September 14 resulted to the death of seven ASG bandits and six others injured including ASG sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.
President Duterte’s visit on Monday in Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu, was accompanied by National Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Gen. Carlito Galvez, Armed Forces chief-of-staff, and Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief.
The 14 awardees were the following: 2Lt. Manny Lonzanida; Cpl. Rogen Baguio; Cpl. Ruel Martinez; PFC Bryan Esmalana; PFC Jinker Rey Meneses; PFC Richard Corpin; PFC Richard Bagalay; PFC Marjon Fernandez; PFC Reynan Cale; PFC Johary Gempeso; PFC Romil Buno; PFC Jayson Andulana, PFC Jessie Steve Polinar; and PFC Merphy Raffy Elaydo.
Dela Vega has awarded Wounded Personnel Medal to two of the 17 wounded soldiers namely, PFC Jayson Cervantes and PO1 Richard Faryao, who were taken to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.
Another wounded soldier, PFC Ricky Cuñado, was transferred to V-Luna Hospital in Quezon City.
The military offensive against the ASG bandits has focused on the rescue of 11 hostages that are still in the hands of the terrorist group. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
