Duterte awards medal to soldiers wounded in fighting vs. Sayyaf

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan on Staff Sergeant Krisnan Natividad as the President visited the wounded soldiers at Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City on July 26, 2018. Natividad was wounded in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf Group last July 19. Also in the photo is Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte has awarded medal to 12 soldiers for gallantry in action against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in separate ceremonies in Sulu province, a top military official said Saturday.

Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the awarding was held on Thursday and Friday when the President visited this city and the province of Sulu.

President Duterte headed to Westmincom headquarters on Thursday night after his visit to the fire victims in Barangay Labuan, this city, and proceeded to the Joint Task Force Sulu headquarters in Jolo, Sulu the following day.

Dela Vega said the 12 soldiers, who were wounded in separate clashes against the ASG bandits in Sulu, received the Order of Lapu-Lapu level of Kampilan Medal.

The awardees are Private First Class Richard Aquino and Staff Sergeant Krismar Natividad of the 45th Infantry Battalion; Private Eugene Gonzales, Corporal Jollybert Bartolome, Sergeant Yahcob Sarian of 32nd Infantry Battalion. They were awarded the medal on Thursday evening at the Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.

Other awardees are Corporal Bernardo Ortiz, Private Brix Cojo, and Private First Class John Jusay, all from the 32nd Infantry Battalion; Private First Class Reynard Baynos from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 (MBLT-3); Corporal Dixon Aplahal, Corporal Binjakar Ajak and Corporal Larkin Lumacad. They were conferred the medal on Friday afternoon at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital, Jolo, Sulu.

The awarding in Camp Bautista Station Hospital was held after President Duterte turned over relief goods to the Sulu provincial government for the fire victims in the three barangays of Jolo, the capital town of the province.

Dela Vega said the awardees have also received a pistol, a cellphone and cash incentives from the President.

“With the overwhelming support of our Commander-In-Chief, we become more motivated to do our job with utmost enthusiasm,” Dela Vega said.