PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday met with relatives of soldiers who died in the battle with Abu Sayyaf extremists in Basilan on April 1 and extended financial assistance to the families of 18 soldiers killed in action.
The President planed in around 10 a.m. and immediately proceeded to the wake of Cpl. Rodelio Bangcairin in Barangay Ayala, 16.50 kilometers west of City Hall.
From Ayala, President Aquino motored to the Camp Navarro General Hospital of the Western Mindanao Command where 38 wounded soldiers are stil undergoing treatment.
Aquino proceeded to the Edwin Andrews Air Base hospital and visited the other six wounded soldiers.
The rest of the wounded soldiers were admitted in two private hospitals in this city while six at the Victoriano Luna General Hospital in Quezon City.
After the hospital visit, Aquino met with the families of the 18 soldiers who were killed during the clash in Basilan province.
“He came here to personally pay respects to the slain soldiers and condole with their families, ” Maj. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, said in an interview.
Barrientos said the financial assistance included the following: P250,000 from the Office of the President; P180,000 cash remuneration (which is six times of the soldier’s basic pay); P50,000 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Mutual Benefit Association Inc.; P80,000, burial expenses; and, P100,000 from Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative.
Barrientos said the government will also give scholarship grant to the dependents of the fallen soldiers.
“This is over and above ng remunerations na binibigay ng ating organization,” Barrientos added.
He said the troops of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division have also contributed some amount that will be given to fallen soldier’s families.
Maj. Filemon Tan, Westmincom information officer, said the visit of the President is a big boost to the morale of the troops.
Tan said the visit of the President shows “na very concern siya sa kalagayan ng kanyang mga kawal.”
As of Wednesday, Tan said the offensive continues against the Abu Sayyaf brigands in the hinterlands of Basilan.
He said latest report showed that 57 soldiers were wounded since the fire fight against the Abu Sayyaf broke out on Saturday in Sitio Bayoko, Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.