President Aquino visits south to boost

troops' morale in the fight vs Abu Sayyaf

President Benigno Aquino III visited on Wednesday the wake of one of the soldiers killed and the wounded troops in the clash with Daesh-linked Abu Sayyaf members in Basilan.

The firefight last Saturday in the village of Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo town left at least 18 soldiers dead and fifty-six others and 20 militants injured in the 10-hour gun battle.

The ensuing sporadic clashes resulted in the death of five terrorists, including a Moroccan national described as a bomb expert and one of the sons of Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

Aquino, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, checked on the condition of 42 of the 56 injured soldiers confined at the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.

He was accompanied by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP chief General Hernando Irriberi, and other high-ranking military officials who later briefed after the visit at the military hospital.

The president refused to have an interview and did not issue any statement to the defense reporters who waited him for long hours inside the Western Mindanao Command headquarters.

But Maj. Gerardo Barrientos, the Philippine Army's 1st Tabak Division commander, said the intention of the president is focus on giving moral support and extend financial assistance to the 

​f​amilies of 

wounded 

​and ​

slain troops

​ in ​

n the fire fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan.

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

."​

​According to him,​

 the troops of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division have also contributed some amount that will be given to fallen soldier’s families.

Major Filemon Tan, Jr., WestMinCom spokesman, told reporters t

he 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 

​inside ​

Westmincom

​ headquarters​

 where 38 wounded soldiers were admitted.

President Aquino proceeded to the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB) 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.

The President, after the hospital visit, has met with the families of the 18 soldiers who were killed during the clash in Basilan province

​.

Tan 

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.