Camp BGen Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital
July 15, 2017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited the wounded-in-action (WIA) soldiers of the 21st Infantry Brigade (21IB) of the Philippine Army (PA) confined at Camp BGen Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Barangay Busbus, Jolo, Sulu.

He awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal to the twelve (12) WIA soldiers, namely, 1Lt. Niño John Paner, 1Lt. Ian Solatre, Cpl. Jeric Ghil Villaruz, Cpl. Alan Bartolome, PFC Rhenievon Saliw-an, PFC Jeremy Ganagan, PFC Jaifiryll Tamayo, PFC Reynan D. Maristela, PFC Vergel Bali, PFC Polard Banggawan, Pvt. Tonie Mar Talatayud, and Pvt. John Paul Annang.

The WIA troops were part of the military operations that encountered an undetermined number of Abu Sayaff terrorist group members under Almujer Yada in Barangay Darayan, Patikul, Sulu last July 8.

President Duterte also provided the WIA soldiers with financial assistance and a caliber .45 pistol as their personal sidearm weapon. Likewise, a mobile phone and a digital wristwatch, donated by Chinese businessmen according to the President, were also given to each one of them.

Following the WIA visit, the Commander-in-Chief talked to the men and women of Joint Task Force Sulu. In his message, he said that all of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) troops would soon be provided with the same .45 caliber pistols, with the first delivery happening next week.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año, Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, and Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) BGen. Cirilito Sobejana accompanied the Commander-in-Chief during the visit.

*****