ZAMBOANGA CITY – The 11th Infantry Division (ID) awarded medals to three soldiers, including a junior officer, for gallantry in action that resulted to the death of an Abu Sayyaf bandit in the province of Sulu.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the 11ID and Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu, named the awardees as First Lieutenant Jemar Timon, Private First Class (PFC) Jhon Ryan Caballes, and PFC Jason Gungab of the 2nd Special Forces.
They were wounded in a five-minute clash against a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits Friday in Barangay Kagay, Indanan, Sulu.
Gonzales expressed gratitude for their gallantry in action as he led Saturday the awarding of Wounded Personnel Medal (WPM) in a visit at Camp Gen. Teofulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu.
“I commend you for the heroism and dedication that you have shown. Your bravery had inspired many of your fellow soldiers in our fight for peace. Rest well and carry on doing our mandated tasked to serve the people and secure the land in the province of Sulu,” Gonzales told the awardee-soldiers.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the troops were on combat operation when they clashed with the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Vinluan said the firefight resulted to the death of Arab Uno, a follower of slain Abu Sayyaf senior leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan. The troops have recovered at the clash site a caliber .45 pistol, a backpack, one solar panel, personal belongings, and foodstuff good for 10 persons. – Nikolai Gonzalo
