Wounded soldiers in Sulu receive medals, rescue efforts continue

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Sep. 30, 2016) - Five soldiers wounded in different encounters against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were given medals by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a simple ceremony at Camp Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo 9am Friday, military official said.

Awarded with the Wounded Personnel Medal were 2Lt Joelimar Sulit, TSg Mario de Guzman Jr., Sgt Berhamin Jumdana, Pfc Deborah Paracuelles and Pvt Michael Andre Atega.

Information Officer Col. Rodrigo Gregorio of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu disclosed that Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of JTF Sulu personally pinned the medals on the wounded troops who are recuperating at the Station Hospital.

"This is one way of recognizing the bravery and services of our troops in protecting the people of Sulu", Brig. Gen. Dela Vega said.

Col. Gregorio said that soldiers continue to scour suspected ASG lairs in Sulu to rescue the remaining kidnap victims. Thirteen (13) hostages; six (6) Indonesians, six (6) Filipinos and one (1) Norwegian have been rescued or released since the assumption of Pres. Duterte and ordered an intensified focused military operations to destroy the ASG and rescue the remaining victims .

Five ASG including the notorious Muktadil brothers were killed in the latest operations this week in diferrent parts of Sulu.

Several ASG involved in the drug trade were also arrested in Zamboanga City and in Metro Manila by combined AFP-PNP forces.

Former hostages revealed that ASG members were usually high on drugs and were personally seen by them taking Shabu. Reports from line units indicate that drug money is being used by ASG to finance its daily operations in conducting criminal acts, terrorism and anti-Islamic activities.