Duterte honors injured soldiers with visit

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 29): Duterte honors injured soldiers with visit

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived here on Saturday, May 27 to visit and personally extend financial assistance to soldiers who were wounded in action following the clashes against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu.

Duterte met the wounded soldiers confined at Camp Teodulfo S. Bautista hospital and personally awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal to them.

The injured members of the Army's 10th Infantry Battalion were Corporal Rumy Dandoh, Roseller Olivar, Apidul Yahkob, Alkedin Abdurajik, Murphy Kasal, Sancho Antipolo Jr., and Rod Campion; Private Daryl Ando, and Alner Ronald Lacierda.

In his speech during the visit, the President appealed to all Muslims to join him in the fight against Islamic extremists in Mindanao, which he said are being financed by the drug trade.

And for those who are suffering the brunt of the war, the President expressed his gratitude to them.

"But we have to fight because it is the only country we have. Pagka nawala ito, ang Mindanao, pagka sumabog ito, wala na ang Pilipinas. Then it is a destroyed country. And, of course, we cannot allow that to happen," Duterte said.

However, he said that the crisis in Marawi City is not all created by ISIS members.

The root cause of the present crisis is illegal drugs, he said, noting Marawi is the hotbed of meth manufacturing and trade in Mindanao.

The Abu Sayyaf on the other hand is an spillover of the Misuari faction, he said.

At the same time, the President reiterated his continuing support to the members of the security forces particularly by providing them housing.

He specifically mentioned the housing project in Davao City for soldiers and urban poor.

"So bigyan lang ninyo ako ng konting panahon. Sana huwag ko na lang gastusin ‘yung pera ko sa giyera, sa bahay na lang," he told the soldiers.

"But as I promised you, I will give you everything you need. Lahat ng hiningi ng ospital ninyo, dinala ko," he said adding he will provide for all the needs of the soldiers in fighting the terror groups. (PND)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2131496051229/duterte-honors-injured-soldiers-with-visit-