PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has released more than half a million worth each of financial aid to families of soldiers who were killed and wounded in Saturday’s firefight between government troops and Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan in the hinterlands of Basilan.
Aquino arrived in Zamboanga City four days after April 9 10-hour bloody gunbattle that took the lives of 18 government troops, the biggest combat casualty reported so far, and wounding more than 30.
In Wednesday’s visit, Aquino arrived in the city around 10 a.m. and proceeded immediately to the wake of slain Corporal Rodelio Bangcairin in the village of Ayala, 16.50 kilometers west of the city.
Major General Gerardo Barrientos, the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander said the financial aid included the following:
* P250,000 from the Office of the President;
* P180,000 cash remuneration (which is six times of the soldier’s basic pay);
* P50,000 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Mutual Benefit Association, Inc.;
* P80,000, burial expenses; and P100,000, Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative.
He said the government will also give scholarship grants to dependents of the fallen soldiers.
“This is over and above ng remunerations na binibigay ng ating organization,” Barrientos added.
He said the troops of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division have also contributed some amount that will be given to the fallen soldier’s families.
From Ayala, Aquino and party motored to the Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) where 38 wounded soldiers were admitted.
He then proceeded to the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB) hospital and visited the six soldiers who were admitted.
The rest of the wounded soldiers were admitted in two private hospitals in Zamboanga City while six at the Victoriano Luna General Hospital in Quezon City.
The President, after the hospital visit, also met families of the 18 soldiers who were killed.
“Pumunta siya rito para personally magbigay ng pugay sa mga naulilang asawa ng ating mga kasundaluhan,” said Barrientos.
Major Filemon Tan Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer said the visit of the President is a big boost to the morale of the troops.
He said the President’s visit shows “na very concerned siya sa kalagayan ng kanyang mga kawal.”
Meantime, military offensive will continue against the Abu Sayyaf bandits, Tan said.
Major Filemon Tan, Jr., that 57 soldiers were wounded since the firefight against the Abu Sayyaf broke out on Saturday in Sitio Bayoko, Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo Basilan.(Sunnex)