Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital: A standing refuge for our fighters

By Jong Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 27, 2016) – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya flew to this southwestern province of Mindanao Wednesday 26 October 2016 for the inauguration of the newly-renovated, 65-bed capacity Hospital ng Kampo Heneral Teodulfo Bautista or Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital (CGTBH) in Jolo, Southern Philippines, military official said.

Chief of Public Affairs Office AFP Col. Edgard A. Arevalo said that Gen. Visaya was joined by the local government executives of Sulu, other military top brass from General Headquarters, field commanders in Western Mindanao, and representatives of San Miguel Foundation, Incorporated led by Atty. Peter Suchianco. 

Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, a retired General, a former AFP Chief of Staff, and a son of General Teodulfo Bautista on whose honor the camp was named after, was the Guest of Honor, Col. Arevalo added.

Col. Arevalo disclosed that the Commander-in-Chief and President Rodrigo Duterte promised support for the construction of a medical facility that shall cater to soldiers committed to the fight against terrorists groups in Western Mindanao.

Brigadier General Mariano A. Mejia, the Surgeon General of the AFP and concurrent Commanding General of the AFP Medical Center expressed his elation for the realization of this project. 

“The fulfillment of this once dream of having a hospital in Sulu did not come easy. It faced financial challenges, among others. This is why we are grateful to the AFP leadership, to the Commander in Chief, and to San Miguel Foundation, Incorporated for their gracious donation of ambulances, equipment, and other hospital implements.”, said General Mejia.

The CGTBSH begun as a Trauma Center back in 2007. It aims to provide immediate management of combat casualties among AFP uniformed personnel engaged in combat operations in that part of Mindanao. With its metamorphosis into a hospital, it can now accommodate injured or sick military personnel, their dependents and even civilians. 

The hospital’s capabilities include immediate resuscitative care and advance trauma management, in-patient and out-patient services, ancillary services such as pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, and primary psycho-social and mental health, post-surgical and medical hospitalization and treatment, and also dental health care services.

“As the Chief of Staff, I exhort field commanders to care for and show their concern for the men—our most valuable asset. This is the moving force that rallied us to this endeavor where even government and non-government corporations weighed in.” General Visaya remarked.

“Camp Teodulfo Station Hospital is a testimony to the enduring partnership between the military, local government, and public and private corporations. That we can put together and contribute to the common good. Not only for the protectors, your soldiers, but also the ones they are protecting, the people.” Visaya concluded.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Emmanuel Bautista, the Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice, and Peace expressed the elation of his family. “If only my father was alive, he would have been very happy for the operation of this hospital. Our gratitude goes to all of you who made this project possible. Indeed, the death of Brigadier General Teodulfo Bautista and his men on that fateful day is an act of supreme sacrifice for our people. And this hospital embodies the same spirit-of treating our soldiers and our people from the wounds of conflict.”