ZAMBOANGA CITY–The Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has awarded medals for gallantry in action to 10 soldiers who were wounded in a recent clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in the province of Sulu.
Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Westmincom chief, awarded the wounded personnel medals (WPM) during his visit on Friday to the soldiers at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Westmincom information officer, on Saturday said the recipients of WPM are the personnel from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion, who were hurt in a two-hour sporadic firefight with around 60 Abu Sayyaf bandits on Wednesday in Sitio Kan Apo Alu, Barangay Panglayahan, Patikul, Sulu.
Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, earlier said the troops were on a military operation when they clashed with the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.
Most of the 10 wounded soldiers were admitted at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital, while the others were airlifted to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city. Besana said dela Vega also visited the wounded soldiers at the hospital in this city.
Besana said dela Vega has commended the soldiers for their professionalism and dedication, and willingness to give up their lives just for the people to live in peace within their communities. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
