Pres. Duterte posthumously awards 3 soldiers killed in Bukidnon

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5): Pres. Duterte posthumously awards 3 soldiers killed in Bukidnon

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan De Oro City -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte posthumously awarded the three soldiers killed in Bukidnon last week during his visit to this largest Army camp in Northern Mindanao Sunday.

Awarded were Sgt. Owen B. Yee, Cpl. Niño Christopher L. Talabor and Cpl. Pat O. Non, all of the Army's 8th Infantry Battalion based in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. The soldiers were also promoted to the next rank.

Pres. Duterte arrived at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental past 2:20 p.m. after which boarded a waiting presidential helicopter that flew him to Camp Evangelista to pay his respects to the slain army soldiers who were killed by the communist rebels last week.

The presidential chopper arrived at the army camp about 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Eduardo waited for the President in a presidential car at the camp’s sprawling parade ground.

The slain soldiers were on their way to Kibalabag, a remote village in Malaybalay City, when waylaid by the New People’s Army (NPA), a day after the communist announced the end of the unilateral ceasefire Tuesday last week.

Capt. Norman Tagros, the spokesperson of the Army’s 8IB, said the soldiers belonged to the battalion’s Community Organizing for Peace and Development and were at the area to follow up documents for the livelihood project of the remote community when rebels attacked them.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=961231