Duterte visits, pins medals on wounded soldiers in Sulu

President Rodrigo Duterte pins the Wounded Personnel Medal to Corporal Ronald Allan Lorenzo of the 41st Infantry Battalion. Lorenzo and 31 other soldiers from the 41IB were wounded when they clashed with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Talipao, Sulu, last April 2. AFP WESMINCOM PHOTO

After his visit to the Western Command in Palawan, President Rodrigo Duterte flew to Jolo, Sulu, Thursday afternoon to visit soldiers wounded in recent clashes with the Abu Sayyaf.

Soldiers from the 41st Infantry Battalion fought with about 100 members of the Abu Sayyaf in a three-hour gunbattle in Barangay Upper Laus, Talipao, last Sunday, April 2. Ten members of the Abu Sayyaf were believed to have been killed but 32 soldiers were wounded.

READ: 10 Abus killed in clash with soldiers in Sulu

Duterte pinned the Wounded Personnel Medal on 28 officers and enlisted personnel during his visit to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Jolo.

Given the medals were:

Lieutenant Colonel William George Cordova, battalion commander of the 41IB

1st Lieutenant Joe Mari Landicho

Sergeant Randy Balutoc

Sergeant Samian Calangan

Corporal Crispin Agoy

Corporal Brainard Dumondon

Corporal Ronald Allan Lorenzo

Corporal Jonathan Mukay

Corporal Mariel Rebred

Corporal Ruben Oleos

Private First Class Jomar Aver

Private First Class Randy Culhi

Private First Class John Joseph Diaz

Private First Class James Layugan

Private First Class Daniel Paclay

Private First Class Rebushsein Babo Stock

Private First Class Ronald Tabliago

Private First Class Jun Terrenal

Private First Class Kristian Ayangao

Private First Class Jomar Yap

Private First Class Jomer Dalayday

Private First Class Yasher Bayongan

Private First Class Emerson Awing

Private Royman Talana

Private Julius Anteater

Private Michael Xedric Adriatico

Private Judie Domingo

Private Jeffrey Viernes

President Rodrigo Duterte shakes the hand of Pfc. John Joseph Diaz of the 41st Infantry Battalion. Duterte pinned the Wounded Personnel Medal to Diaz after his unit clashed with the Abu Sayyaf in Talipao, Sulu. AFP WESMINCOM PHOTO

Four soldiers who sustained gunshot wounds were brought to Zamboanga City after the encounter. They were: Private First Class Freddie Anggaco, Private First Class Ryan Maymaya, Private First Class Bobbyn Pacas, and Private Eugene Pagat.

All of them are in stable condition, the Western Mindanao Command said. Frances Mangosing/CBB/rga