- President Aquino flew to Zamboanga to check on the condition of the soldiers wounded in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf
- He gave the soldiers moral support and promised financial assistance
- Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP chief General Hernando Irriberi accompanied the president
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, April 13, visited the soldiers who were wounded in the almost 10-hour fierce firefight with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, which resulted to the biggest combat loss suffered by the government in a single day in recent years.
The president, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, flew to Zamboanga and went to two military hospitals to check on the conditions of wounded soldiers there.
Accompanied by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP chief General Hernando Irriberi, and other high-ranking military officials, President Aquino arrived at the Western Mindanao Command Camp around 10:35 a.m. and went directly to the Camp Navarro General Hospital where at least 38 wounded soldiers are still confined.
He also went to Edwin Andrews Air Base Hospital to meet with six wounded soldiers admitted there.
A Philippine News Agency write-up published by InterAksyon on April 13, 2016, said there are several soldiers who are recuperating in private hospitals in Zamboanga, some were even flown to V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City.
Aside from the moral support, President Aquino promised financial assistance to the wounded soldiers.
After visiting the wounded soldiers, the president met with the grieving families of the 18 slain soldiers at the Edwin Andrews Air Base to personally express his condolences. He vowed to pursue justice for them.
He also promised to give all the families the full benefits due them.
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