DND chief visits wounded soldiers, gives aid to slain soldiers’ families

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 28): DND chief visits wounded soldiers, gives aid to slain soldiers’ families

CAMP MELCHOR DELA CRUZ, GAMU, Isabela – The Department of National Defense (DND) chief visited the eight wounded soldiers at the camp’s hospital on Friday (Nov 23) and handed financial aid to the slain soldiers’ families. DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin together with army chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista on Friday personally went to the camp and visited all the wounded soldiers and handed financial assistance to them. The wounded soldiers are the companions of the seven soldiers killed in an encounter with the New Peoples Army on November 17, 2012 at Mabbayad, Echague, Isabela. Gazmin advised the soldiers of the 5th Infantry Division to take precautionary measures to avert the lost of lives of soldiers just like what happened to the seven soldiers of the division. The soldiers were also told to remain apolitical during elections as the election period will again be held next year. The seven slain soldiers including those wounded are conducting security operations at barangay Mabbayad,Echague, Isabela when unknown number of New Peoples Army engaged in a gun fight resulting to the death of the soldiers and wounding the other. Gazmin is hopeful that no such similar incidents will soon happen to the soldiers of 5ID and advised to intensify intelligence operations to prevent deaths caused by encounters with the rebels. Meanwhile, the provincial government also personally handed financial assistance to the slain and wounded soldiers through Secretary Gazmin. Slain soldiers’ families were given P20 thousand while the wounded soldiers are given P5 thousand by the provincial government.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=481353936754