MANILA – Philippine President Benigno Aquino has awarded medals to over a dozen soldiers who fought separatist rebels in three weeks of street battles in Zamboanga City in September.
Aquino led the awarding in a ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and among those who received medals were Lieutenant Colonel Oriel Pangcog, battalion commander of Joint Special Operations Task Group Arrow; and Captain Reynir Nirza, of the Armed Forces’ Joint Operations Group – who were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Star medal.
Also awarded the Distinguished Service Star were Lieutenant General Rey Ardo, chief of the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, Brigadier General Rodelio Santos, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; and Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, of the Armed Forces’ Public Affairs Office.
And the Gold Cross medal was posthumously awarded to Army First Lieutenant Francis Damian who died in the fighting. His wife, Lieutenant junior grade Army Leslie Damian received the award.
Other recipients of the same award included Army First Lieutenant Jerson Jurilla, Marine First Lieutenant Dexter Carin, and Navy Lieutenant junior grade Joey Cayao, along with enlisted personnel Army Sergeant Larry Lopez, Navy F1MR Abelardo Angelo, Air Force Sergeant Salvador Codon, Jr. , Army Staff Sergeant Allan Adap, Corporal Eduardo Saquing, Jr.
Major Caezar Almer Candelaria, leader of the Medical Team of the Special Operations Task Group, was awarded the Bronze Cross medal. Air Force Major Renie Aureo and Army Captain Dranreb Lansang were given the Military Merit medal with Bronze Spearhead Device, while Marine Private First Class Eduardo Jose received the Wounded Personnel medal.
Aquino also conveyed his gratitude to over 2,400 soldiers and policemen who fought the Moro National Liberation Front rebels who simultaneous attacked villages in Zamboanga.
“Habambuhay pong babantayog ang inyong dedikasyon at propesyonalismo sa kasaysayan. Magsisilbi kayong huwaran ‘di lamang ng kasalukuyang henerasyon kundi maging ng susunod na salinlahi,” he said.
But the awarding did not come without criticisms in Zamboanga City after some of those who led the fighting were not included in the lists of those given medals, especially members of the 32nd Infantry Battalion.
And that some of those awarded should have been included in the list either because they stayed in their headquarters or did not engage in actual combat at the height of the fierce battles. (With a report from the Mindanao Examiner)
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