ZAMBOANGA CITY — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday, November 24, recognized the bravery of 23 soldiers who were wounded in separate clashes with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu. 

The Chief Executive visited the soldiers at Camp Navarro General Hospital and conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan on them. He also gave them gun certificates and extended financial assistance.

The November 16 and 17 encounters in Patikul, Sulu also claimed the lives of five soldiers, mostly from northern Philippines.

The soldiers who received the Order of Lapu-Lapu award with the Rank of Kampilan were 2Lt. Michael Vincent Benito, SSg. Rex Cureg, Sgt. Romeo Barbon, Sgt. Jerson Barasi, Sgt. Reynante Ruma, Cpl. Geneus Calamlam, Cpl. Bingbong Salvador, Cpl. Felix Jay Castillo, Cpl. Denver Lambino, Cpl. Eugene Corpuz, Pfc. London Longawis, Pfc. Aldrin Paj-Dio, Pfc. Kriel Manaligod, Pfc. Jordan Magundayao, Pfc. Ruben Bulayang, Pfc. Harvie Soriano, Pfc. Marnel Piduana, Pfc. Sandoval Ludivico, Pfc. John Paul Layugan, Pfc. Gevil Lorenzo, Pvt. Jayferson Balac, Pvt. Jaime Boco, Jr., and Pvt. Rizalde Tierro.

Another soldier, Pvt. Murphy Cuntapay, was flown from Mindanao and currently confined at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.

The Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan is awarded to personnel of the government and private individuals who were injured or suffered a significant loss of property as a direct result of their participation in an action supporting a campaign or advocacy of the President.

Aside from visiting the wounded soldiers, the President also pledged P300 million for the construction of a new two-story hospital inside Camp Navarro.

He told the hospital management that it could use the P27 million remaining fund initially earmarked for the new Camp Navarro General Hospital to buy medical equipment. ###PND