47 soldiers, cops awarded

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) awarded 34 soldiers and 13 policemen, following their contribution in two recent clashes against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Isabela town and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last month.

Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo, 303rd IBde commander led the pinning of Military Commendation Medals to 16 military troopers of 62nd Infantry Battalion  (IB) (Bravo Company) led by 2nd Lieutenant Edgardo Sarmiento II, 18 from the 31st Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC), 12 from the Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion-6 (RMFB-6), and Master Sergeant Fidel Delara, battalion sergeant major.

The awarding rite was held at the 62nd IB headquarters in Barangay Libas, Isabela town last December 2. It is part of the unit’s advocacy for transformation that enhances the level of personnel competencies as well as to boost their morale and welfare.

The awardees were among the security forces who engaged in an encounter with the NPAs at Barangay Cansalongon, Isabela town last November 22 which resulted in the death of one rebel and brought injuries to another rebel. It also led to the arrest of six women who were alleged supporters of the armed struggle.

The same forces also clashed with the NPA at Barangay Caradio-an, Himamaylan City last November 24 which resulted in the recovery of various war materials.

Arevalo commended the said personnel for the relentless efforts of the unit in hunting down this terrorist group and preventing them from causing harm and terror to the community through their deceptive and dual tactics.

“Nowadays, nobody believes in the recycled lies and propaganda of this terrorist group, along with their legal fronts who are now gradually being unmasked from their true connections with the terrorist,” Arevalo said.

“Just stay vigilant on the destructive strategy that the communist terrorists can possibly do such as planting of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which clearly violates the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) indicated in the Ottawa Treaty,” he added.