Music Room, Malacañan Palace
February 13, 2018

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte bestowed the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan to Private First Class (PFC) Romeo Esperida, Jr. and the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the Rank of Kamagi to Dr. Fabio Enrique Posas, in a simple awarding ceremony at the Music Room of Malacañan Palace.

PFC Esperida served in the 63rd Company of the Marine Special Operations Group during the Marawi siege, and was the most injured among the 40 troops wounded in a 14-hour intense firefight with the Maute terrorists last June 9, 2017. He suffered severe injuries from mortar shrapnel that tore through his leg, arm, groin and eye.

He was awarded the Kampilan Medal for his direct “participation in an activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President.”

On the other hand, Dr. Posas is an interventional cardiologist who has been dubbed “The Heart Plumber” for performing Transcatheter Aortic Value Replacement (TAVR) procedures. He saved the life of PFC Esperida who was severely injured in the Marawi siege, thus earning him the Kamagi Medal for contributing “significantly to an activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President.”

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