Navy Man Who Lost Thumb During Ayungin Incident Honored
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. awarded Seaman First Class Underwater Operator Jeffrey Facundo, a Philippine Navy servicemember, the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kampilan on Sunday. Facundo lost his thumb in a confrontation with the China Coast Guard (CCG) near Ayungin Shoal.
The ceremony occurred in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, where President Marcos honored Facundo’s bravery. According to the Presidential Communications Office, the Order of Lapu-Lapu is bestowed upon individuals for their invaluable or extraordinary service in support of the President’s campaigns or advocacies.
President Marcos’s speech at the Western Command headquarters in Camp General Artemio Ricarte emphasized the government’s commitment to peace and the welfare of military personnel and their families. “As we award these medals, we remember that on June 17, we made a conscious and deliberate choice to remain in the path of peace,” Marcos stated.
Alongside Facundo, 79 other mission participants received the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi. The President praised the Western Command troops for their restraint during the hostile confrontation with Chinese sailors during a recent resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. “I have never been prouder of the brave women and men of the Western Command and the entire Armed Forces as I am today,” he said.
On June 17, the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a resupply mission to the Sierra Madre outpost, crewed by a small group of Marines. The CCG attempted to obstruct the operation, resulting in injuries to at least eight Filipinos, including Facundo. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela described Facundo’s injury as an “accident” during a “high-speed ramming incident” between Chinese and Filipino rigid-hull inflatable boats.
The June 17 incident is part of a series of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing intensifies efforts to assert its claims in the disputed area. Despite the tension, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified that the recent confrontation does not yet qualify as an armed attack under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and does not trigger the Philippines’ defense pact with the United States.
