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