Eastern Mindanao Command, Panacan, Davao City
February 17, 2017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited the two (2) killed-in-action (KIA) soldiers and fourteen (14) wounded-in-action (WIA) soldiers at the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM) in Panacan, Davao City.

According to the Joint Task Force ‘Haribon’ statement of the EASTMINCOM, an encounter between troops of the 3rd Infantry Battalion (3IB) and the New People’s Army (NPA) occurred along the boundary of Barangay Lacson and Barangay Lamanan in Calinan District, Davao City at about 4 pm on February 16, 2017.

The encounter against the NPA came after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in a convoy of troops pursuing armed men who burned a pineapple harvesting facility of the Del Monte in Calinan District at noon of the same day.

The President visited the wake of the slain soldiers, Cpl. Michael Yadao and Pvt. Virnel Damondon, whose remains lie at the EASTMINCOM Gymnasium. He also personally checked and gave financial assistance to the following WIA soldiers: PFC Kevin Nuesca, CPL Rey Danaytan, PFC Celso Oliveros Neri Jr., PFC Paul John Aromin, PFC Dominic Alegado, CPL Abelardo Suela, PVT Noel Ramos, PFC John Tecson, CPL Allan Aguilar, PFC Marlon Soriano, 2LT Harvey Kyl Escora, CPL Joe Mark Accad, CPL Bel Jon Soratos, and PFC Alvin Omagtang. They were awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal during the President’s visit in Camp Panacan Hospital in EASTMINCOM.

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