Aquino visits soldiers injured in Mindanao anti-insurgency operations

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino on Monday visited soldiers injured in anti-insurgency campaigns at the V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City and the Army General Hospital in Taguig City, a media release said.

Accompanied by Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Aquino distributed cheques to the soldiers, who were wounded in separate clashes with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao and the Abu Sayaff Group in Jolo and Basilan.

Last month, Catapang directed the Western Mindanao Command to launch an all-out offensive against the BIFF, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). A separate offensive also targeted the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo, Sulu; and Basilan.

Members of the BIFF were among those believed to have killed some of the 44 police Special Action Force commandos in the botched Mamasapano operation that targeted Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.

Aquino, as seen in the video released to media, spoke to each of the soldiers. Those who suffered major injuries received P100,000 each from the President’s Social Fund while those with minor injuries received P50,000 each.

The President also went to the wake of two Marines killed in a clash with the BIFF at the Fort Bonifacio Naval Station.

The families of Marine Corporal Josen Mias and Sergeant Francis Jeffel Flores each received a P250,000 cheque, also drawn from the President’s Social Fund.–KS