President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. awards a wounded soldier at the Army General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday, February 12, 2024. (Photo by Cpl. Rodgen V. Quirante PA / OACPA)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Monday honored four soldiers who were wounded in a clash with the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG).
The DI-MG was allegedly behind the bombing of Mindanao State University (MSU) in December 2023, which killed four people.
According to the Philippine Army (PA), Marcos visited the wounded soldiers at the Army General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
(Photo by Cpl. Rodgen V. Quirante PA/OACPA)
“Honoured our soldiers who faced the aftermath of the MSU-Marawi bombing, ensuring top-notch care, support programs, and military hospital upgrades,” said Marcos in a Facebook post.
(Photo by Cpl. Rodgen V. Quirante PA/OACPA)
Marcos was accompanied by Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., and Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido.
SSg Jhonny Batucan Jr. PA was awarded the Gold Cross Medal. The PA said that Batucan aimed a grenade launcher at the DI-MG, killing a lot of combatants.
PFC Mark John B. Culaway was also awarded the Gold Cross Medal, who sustained a gunshot wound to the chest during a face off.
Meanwhile, PFC Vicent Salvani and PFC Jheremy Addatu were awarded with a Bronze Spearhead Device for risking their lives.
A total of nine DI-MG members were killed during the encounter.