PAGADIAN CITY (Sept. 25, 2018) - Fourteen battle casualties of the
Joint Task Force Sulu were accorded with the Order of Lapu-lapu level of
Kampilan Medal by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his visit in Sulu
yesterday, military official said.
LTC Gerry
M. Besana, WesMinCom spokesperson disclosed that the said battle casualties are
among the seventeen who incurred shrapnel wounds after battling with more or
less one hundred fully armed Abu Sayyafs under senior leader Radullan Sahiron
and sub leaders Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan and Idang Susukan at 1:30pm of September
14, 2018 in Barangay Bakong, Patikul, Sulu. Said encounter also resulted to 7
ASG members killed and wounding of 6 others including ASGSL Hatib Hajan
Sawadjaan.
Besana said
that Second Lieutenant Manny Lonzanida, Corporal Rogen Baguio, Corporal Ruel
Martinez, Private First Class Bryan Esmalana, Private First Class Jinker Rey
Meneses, Private First Class Richard Corpin, Private First Class Richard
Bagalay, Private First Class Marjon Fernandez, Private First Class Reynan Cale,
Private First Class Johary Gempeso, Private First Class Romil Buno, Private
First Class Jayson Andulana, Private First Class Jessie Steve Polinar, and
Private First Class Merphy Raffy Elaydo were conferred at the Camp Teodulfo
Bautista Station Hospital, Jolo, Sulu.
Besana
added that President Duterte was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin
Lorenzana; General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines; Lieutenant General Arnel B. Dela Vega, Commander, Western
Mindanao Command; and other officers.
The other two
battle casualties namely: Private First Class Jayson Cervantes and PO1 Richard
Faryao, who were evacuated to the Camp Navarro General, Zamboanga City, were
accorded with the Wounded Personnel Medal by none other than WestMinCom Chief
Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega earlier today while Private First Class
Ricky Cuñado was transferred to V-Luna Hospital, Quezon City for further
medical attention, Besana also said. (By JONG CADION)
