THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has honored five soldiers and three militiamen for gallantry in action against the Maute terrorists and other lawless elements in Mindanao.
The recipients of the wounded personnel medal (WPM) were Staff Sergeant Junifel Pangasian; Sergeant Al-Muktar Sali; Corporal Ayatulla Hamid; Private Arjone Bano; and Sergeant Yusop Nahudan.
They were awarded medals and given financial assistance in a ceremony led by AFP Chief-of-Staff Eduardo Año at Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.
The three militiamen who received WPM medal were Mole Icasama, Lito Lalag, and Charlie Alejandro.
The Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said in a statement that Pangasian was wounded in a clash against the Maute terrorists while extricating cadaver of fallen comrades on July 15 in the village of Marinaut, Marawi City.
Sali was injured in an encounter against the Maute while conducting clearing operations on July 13 in Marinaut village.
Hamid was injured in a firefight while establishing a mortar fire base on June 20 in the village of Bangon, Marawi City.
Bano was hit in a firefight against the Abu Sayyaf bandits while on combat operations on July 7 in the village of Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan province.
Nahudan, Icasama and Lalag were injured in a clash with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on July 16 in the village of Tinaplan, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
Alejandro was wounded in an armed confrontation with Abu Sayyaf bandits on July 20 at Sitio Campo Barn in the village of Switch Yakal, Lantawan, Basilan province.
Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Jr., Westmincom chief, and other military officials assisted Año in the awarding ceremony.
Año also visited the troops of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade at Camp Luis Biel III in Tabiawan, Isabela City, Basilan. (SunStar Philippines)