Duterte pins medals on wounded soldiers: I’m ready to die with you

President Rodrigo Duterte leads the awarding of the Gold Cross Medal to the officers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who have made exemplary acts while deployed in Sulu during his visit to Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo on June 4, 2019. ALBERT ALCAIN / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday awarded medals to soldiers wounded in a May 31 firefight with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Patikul, Sulu, and said he was ready to die with them.

Mr. Duterte conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu, with the rank of Kampilan, on 11 soldiers in honor of their “sacrifice and extraordinary service in the line of duty.”

The President said he wished to recognize their bravery and boost their morale by visiting them.

“At a time when you need your commander in chief to be with you, beside you and to die with you, I am here for times like that,” a Malacañang statement quoted the President as telling the soldiers.

Dutch national Ewold Horn was shot dead by his Abu Sayyaf guards when he tried to escape during the gunbattle, the military said.

Horn, a bird-watcher, had been held captive by the Abu Sayyaf since Feb. 2, 2012, when he was abducted along with Swiss citizen Lorenzo Vinciguerra and Filipino Ivan Sarenas in Tawi-Tawi province.

Sarenas escaped shortly after his capture, while Vinciguerra escaped during a 2014 firefight in Sulu.

The medal recipients were Army Cpl. Arsenio Opaco Jr., Cpl. Sonny Jumoc, Pfc. Edwin Yurong, Pfc. Edeson Alom, Pfc. Abduhasad Baladji, Pcf. Joevert Ramirez, Pvt. Dominic Osorio, Pvt. Jeric Peñaredondo, Pvt. Raymund Balambao, Pvt. Ramil Diaz Jr. and Pvt. Albert Daligdig.

Two other wounded soldiers, Pfc. Haliboy Calapiz and Pfc. Dieth Sarabe, were in Zamboanga City. —DJ Yap