Duterte pins medals to soldiers hurt in clash with Abu Sayyaf

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. (File photo by Kiwi Bulaclac of the Presidential Photographers Division)  

ZAMBOANGA CITY – President Duterte, in a brief visit to Jolo, Sulu on Saturday, awarded medals to soldiers who were wounded in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said the awardees included two officers and 10 enlisted personnel.

The President pinned the soldiers with the Wounded Personnel Medal in a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Joint Task Force Sulu in Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Barangay Busbus in Jolo.

The awardees were 1Lts. Niño John Paner and Ian Solatre, Corporals Alan Bartolome and Jeric Ghil S Villaruz, and Privates First Class Reynan Maristela, Vergel Bali, Rhenievon Saliw-an, Jaifiryll Tamayao, Polard Banggawan, Jeremy Ganagan, Tonie Mar Talatayud and John Paul B Annang.  All are members of the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion.

The soldiers were wounded in an encounter with an Abu Sayyaf Group under sub-leader Almujer Yaddah in Patikul town on July 8.

The President immediately left after awarding the medals. He also skipped the scheduled “Talk to the troops” session.  SFM