FOURTEEN soldiers who were recently wounded in a clash against the Abu Sayyaf bandits received medals with the Order of Lapu-Lapu level of Kampilan in an awarding ceremony led by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, a military official said on Tuesday, September 25.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) information officer, said the awarding ceremony was held on Monday when President Duterte visited the Joint Task Force-Sulu headquarters in Camp General Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu.

Besana said the 14 awardees were the following: Second Lieutenant Manny Lonzanida; Corporal Rogen Baguio; Corporal Ruel Martinez; Private First Class Bryan Esmalana; Private First Class Jinker Rey Meneses; Private First Class Richard Corpin; Private First Class Richard Bagalay; Private First Class Marjon Fernandez; Private First Class Reynan Cale; Private First Class Johary Gempeso; Private First Class Romil Buno; Private First Clas Jayson Andulana, Private First Class Jessie Steve Polinar; and, Private First Class Merphy Raffy Elaydo.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu.

Besana said the 14 awardees were among the 17 soldiers who were wounded in a clash on September 14 against more or less 100 Abu Sayyaf bandits headed by ASG senior leader Radullan Sahiron in the village of Bakong, Patikul, Sulu.

The clash resulted to the death of seven Abu Sayyaf bandits while six others, including sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, were injured.

Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, has awarded Wounded Personnel Medal to two of the 17 wounded soldiers namely, Private First Class Jayson Cervantes and Petty Officer 1 Richard Faryao, who admitted at the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Besana said that another casualty, Private First Class Ricky Cuñado, was transferred to V-Luna Hospital in Quezon City.

Aside from Dela Vega, President Duterte was accompanied by National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; General Carlito Galvez, Armed Force chief-of-staff; and, other officers during his visit on Monday to Jolo, Sulu. (SunStar Philippines)