Salutes them for their bravery
BY: ROEL T. AMAZONA, RONALD O.REYES
TACLOBAN CITY- President Rodrigo Duterte paid his tribute to the soldiers who were killed and wounded during an ambush in Borongan City last week.
The President first visited the wake of the six soldiers killed at the 8th ID headquarters in Catbalogan City last Friday (November 15) where he conferred them with the Order of Lapu-Lapu with a rank of Kalasag.
The recipients of the said award were SSgt. Rex Jadulco (from Motiong, Samar); Sgt. Ronaldo Go (Burauen, Leyte), Sgt. Limar Banug (Borongan City), Cpl. Junmar Buranday (Burauen), Cpl. Kent Lloyd Agullo (Arteche, Eastern Samar) and PFC Charlie del Rosario (Pinukpok, Kalinga).
During his brief visit to the camp, the President condoled with the bereaved family members of the fallen soldiers, now known as ‘Borongan 6’.
The families brought their killed loved ones to their respective homes a day after Mr. Duterte’s visit. They received from the President financial aid and other assistance under the government’s Comprehensive Social Benefit Program.
After his visit at Camp Lukban, the President went to the Divine Word Hospital, this city, to visit the wounded soldiers who are still recovering from the serious wounds they sustained due to the ambush staged by the estimated 50 members of the New People’s Army (NPAs) who used explosive improvised devices (EIDs).
During his visit at the hospital, the Commander-in-Chief conferred the wounded soldier the Order of Lapu-Lapu with a rank of Kampilan.
Those who received the medal from the President were Sgt. Kenneth John Arcina, Cpl. Linlito Donayre, PFC Albert Abegonia, Pvt. Darwin Aborquez, Pvt. Joshua Pacuan, Cpl. Aljon Aguilos, and PFC Rex Batis Jr.
The seven were among the 24 wounded soldiers under the 14th Infantry Battalion whose headquarter is based in Oras, also in Eastern Samar, who engaged the rebel members in a 36-minute firefight in sitio Bangin of Barangay Pinanag-an, a coastal village which could be reached by a six-hour sea travel from the city proper.
Also awarded with the Order of Lapulapu by the President was Pat. Jomar Aballe who was assigned at the 2nd Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company who was wounded when NPA harassed police personnel who were conducting an operation in Paranas, Samar.
The President, who did not made a statement or granted media interview during his brief visit, gave P110,000 to the soldiers while his former aide, Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go gave P3,000 each to the wounded security personnel.
Before he pinned the medals, Mr. Duterte gave a brief talk to the soldiers and their family members who were with them during the visit.
The President said that he was ‘proud’ with them for standing up against the communist rebel members as he gave them a salute after he pinned the medals.
Aside from Sen. Go, the President was accompanied by Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and Interior Sec. Eduardo Año during his latest visit to the region.
Año gave food packs and hygiene kits to the wounded soldiers.
Meantime, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided initial cash assistance of P5,000 to the wounded soldiers;P10,000 to the families of those who were killed; medical assistance, three boxes each of family food packs.
The President had earlier directed government troops in the region, now under the leadership of Major Gen. Pio Diñoso III, to quell its insurgency problem before he steps down from Malacañang in 2020.
