President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on June 28, Wednesday recognized the gallantry of uniformed personnel wounded during an encounter against the Maute terror group in Marawi City.
The Chief Executive personally checked the condition of 15 wounded-in-action soldiers and policemen at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“Congratulations ha. Bilib ako sa inyo,” the President told the troopers.
He awarded each injured with the Wounded Personnel Medal.
The soldiers and policemen also received cash assistance which is sourced from the President’s Social Fund.
They were flown via presidential plane from Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday.
The President was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
Last week, soldiers required by medical professionals to be transported to Manila for further treatment also used the presidential aircraft for their transfer.
Duterte has committed to visit government troops wounded and killed in clashes against the Maute militants, who launched a rebellion in the Islamic City last month.
The latest count, as of 6 p.m. of June 27, showed that government casualties has reached 71. ###PND
