PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte made a quick trip Saturday, September 22, at the fourth Infantry Division (4ID), Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City to visit the wounded soldiers.
There was, however, no invitation to the media during this visit, unlike the President's usual visits in the city.
First Lieutenant Tere Ingente, 4ID spokesperson, disclosed that Duterte arrived in Camp Evangelista at about 11:46 p.m. of September 21 and left at 12:20 a.m. of September 22.
Ingente said 14 soldiers were awarded with the Order of Lapu-Lapu Award while Eastern Mindanao Commander Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal awarded each of them with the Wounded Personnel Medal.
The Lapu-Lapu Medal is awarded to government workers and private citizens “who have contributed significantly to the success of an activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President.”
Of the 14, Ingente said seven soldiers were wounded from a land mine incident in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte last September 15. The soldiers belonged to the 23rd Infantry Batallion assigned in Agusan del Norte.
In his Facebook post, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said Duterte visited the landslide victims in Naga, Cebu before going to Cagayan de Oro.
Go said that aside from the medals, the soldiers also received cash assistance, cellphones, watch, and gun certificates.
After his visit, Go said Duterte shared a dinner with supporters in one of the restaurants in the city.