Duterte to honor 12 soldiers wounded in Indanan blasts

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — President Duterte is going to honor this evening, July 3, the 12 soldiers wounded in action in the twin explosions that hit a military camp in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu on June 28.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the scheduled visit of the President here but refused to release details, as the visit was categorized as “close for coverage.”

Encinas said the 12 wounded soldiers, who are confined at the Don Basilio Navarro Hospital inside the Westmincom complex, would be conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu by the President.

They might also receive cash incentives but “we don’t know yet at this time,” he added.

The awardees are Staff Sergeants Marlon B. Domingo and Ferdinand V. Clemente; Sergeants Jykyl A. Bautista, Richard B.Tudla, Mark Joseph M. Mamingcol, and William E. Andreade; Corporal Rommel V. Soliman and Serto Bagni; and Private First Class John Angelo S. Carpio, Dariel C. Bolivar, Ralph R. Sabroso, and Ryan S. Ferrer.

The twin blasts claimed the lives of eight people – three soldiers, three civilians, and the two suicide bombers from the Islamic State-aligned Abu Sayyaf Group.

A day after the twin explosions in Indanan, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, also awarded the 12 with Wounded Personnel Medal.

Encinas said aside from recognizing the troops’ bravery, the President would also lead the donning of a rank for Sobejana.

There would be talk to men but this would be done by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, added Encinas.

He said President Duterte would no longer speak with the troops as “it will be a short visit.”

The President is expected here around 6 p.m., he added. (Editor: Leti Boniol)