For their courage in battle, five soldiers of the Philippine Marine brigade in Maguindanao were awarded with wounded personnel medals (WPMs), the military here said Thursday.
Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) commander who has jurisdiction over the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team deployed in Lanao del Sur, personally pinned the medals to wounded the Marines on Wednesday at Camp Siongco Station Hospital here.
Uy said the injured Marines, who were not identified pending notification with their respective families, are under the 6ID-led Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) who risked their lives fighting the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorist group in the Balabagan–Malabang area in Lanao del Sur.
Two DI terrorists were neutralized in the operation on February 2.
“The WPMs were awarded in recognition of the bravery and gallantry of the Marine troops during an encounter with the DI terrorists putting their lives in grave danger in the discharge of their duties,” Uy said in a statement.
He was assisted by Col. Michael Santos, 6ID chief of staff, during a simple ceremony to recognize the wounded personnel and distribute financial assistance.
Source: Philippines News Agency