Soldiers hurt in clash with Abus get medals

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Five soldiers who were wounded in recent encounters with Abu Sayyaf bandits received medals yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, pinned the medals on 2nd Lt. Joelimar Sulit, TSgt. Mario de Guzman Jr., Sgt. Berhamin Jumdana, Pfc. Deborah Paracuelles and Pvt. Michael Andre Atega.

The soldiers remain confined at the Camp Bautista Station Hospital.

Dela Vega said five  Abu Sayyaf bandits, including brothers Nixon and Brown Muktadil, were killed while four others were wounded in the military operations in Sulu last week. 

He said the  bandits were behind recent kidnappings of crewmembers of Indonesian and Malaysian vessels.

Dela Vega said operations to rescue the remaining captives of the Abu Sayyaf are ongoing.