President Rodrigo Duterte visited and honored several soldiers who were wounded in a recent clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Jolo, Sulu on Monday.

Duterte personally checked the condition of the soldiers confined at Camp Teodulfo Bautista Hospital after being wounded in a firefight with the ASG in Patikul, Sulu last Sunday. Six ASG members were killed in the clash.

Also last Sunday, the government troops had an encounter with the ASG in Indanan, Sulu, where two ASG members were killed.

The successive encounters were the result of the cooperation of local residents against the ASG, according to the AFP.

The President awarded the wounded soldiers with Wounded Personnel Medal each. The eight soldiers were Private First Class Ladne Basitao, Private First Class Lorenzo Cagwayan, Private First Class Hart Blaine Acuat, Private First Class Walter Dumpao, Private First Class Conrad Bagsaw, Corporal Arjay Turingan, Corporal Jonardo Esperanza and Technical Sergeant Edwin Ramos

Esperanza and Bagsaw were earlier transferred to Zamboanga City for further medical treatment.

Aside from the award, the wounded soldiers were also given P100,000 financial assistance, P10,000 for additional expenses, and a Glock pistol each.

Joining the President during the visit to show support for the wounded soldiers were Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya and Army Chief Eduardo Año. PND