Manila: The Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday awarded the Kalasag Medal posthumously to soldiers and militiamen who died while trying to avert a major bomb attack on Tuesday at a checkpoint near Magkawit, Colonia, Lamitan City, Basilan.The awards ceremony was held in Zamboanga City on Saturday, during Duterte’s visit to the Camp Navarro General Hospital, where he extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
He said the government soldiers and militiamen saved the lives of many people during Tuesday morning’s bomb blast that claimed the lives of 11 people, including a government soldier Cpl. Samad Jumah, members of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU) Muid Monda, Adzian Abdullah, Hermilito Gapo Jr., and Omar Teteng; as well as civilians Rosa Inso; Rosida and Garry Teteng, wife and son of militiama Teteng; and Hadja Radia Monda, wife of Monda.
The President posthumously awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu Kalasag Medal to Jumah, Monda, Abdulla, Gapo, and Teteng.
The Kalasag Medal is awarded to officials and personnel of the government and private individuals who lost their lives as a direct result of their participation in an activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President
The victims bore the full impact of the blast, when a bomb placed in a van that they were inspecting at a checkpoint went off. Also killed in the blast was the driver of the vehicle whose identity is not yet established.
Six members of the Army Scout Rangers and three militiamen were also injured in the blast.
Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año said the sacrifice of the soldiers and militiamen averted a bigger incident. “On behalf of the DILG Family, I salute the sacrifice and heroism of our troops who laid down their lives in the fulfilment of their avowed duties of serving and protecting families and properties,” Año said.
Spl Jumah and the civilian auxiliaries (CAFGU) were manning the said checkpoint when they pulled over a battered white utility van en route to Lamitan City proper just a few kilometres away.
It was later found out that unidentified individual was in possession of an improvised explosive device (IED) which was immediately detonated as the CAFGU and CAA units checked the van. The vehicle exploded as he alighted the van for interrogation.
