The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has bestowed Presidential medals on 17 soldiers, a military unit, and a civilian doctor who helped in liberating Marawi City from the grip of Daesh-inspired terrorist groups in 2017.
General Gilbert Gapay, AFP Chief of Staff, led the presentation and giving of the medals from President Duterte to the awardees in a ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Monday night, coinciding with the third year anniversary of the liberation of Marawi City.
Dr. Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay was the lone civilian awardee as she was given the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Magalong.
According to Gapay, Cojuangco "selflessly initiated, contributed, and defended the interests of the state against ISIS-Maute terrorist group during the Marawi crisis."
The Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Magalong is given to officials and personnel of the government and private individuals who have rendered "extraordinary service or have made exceptional contributions to the success of an activity pursuant to a campaign or advocacy of the President."
Meanwhile, the Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi was awarded to Brigadier General Fabian Pedregosa and Colonel Randy Pascua "for their exemplary service rendered in significantly advancing the advocacy of the President."
The Order of Lapu-Lapu Rank of Kamagi is given to an individual in recognition of his/her invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President.
Meanwhile, the Distinguished Conduct Star was given to Colonel Jose Jesus Luntok, Captain Arnel Lozada, 2nd Lieutenant George Francisco, and Staff Sergeant Roland Saludes "for their acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry in action."
The Distinguished Conduct Star is the second highest combat award, next to the Medal of Valor. It is awarded to an individual who exemplifies conspicuous acts of gallantry in the presence of an armed enemy.
Luntok, a former commander of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, delivered a testimonial to honor the late Army Captain Rommel Sandoval who sacrificed his life during the five-month battle.
Sandoval is the highest ranking militaty officer who died in the Marawi siege. He was the commanding officer of the 11th Scout Ranger Company under the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion.
Nicknamed "Daredevil," Sandoval died on September 10, 2017 while attempting to rescue one of his wounded team leaders who got trapped on the ground floor of an establishment called Building 63, a stronghold of the ISIS-inspired Maute terrorists in the main battle area, while they were making a clearing operation.
Sandoval was hit by a fatal shot on the cheek by a terrorist sniper but he managed to use his body as a shield for the wounded team soldier, who ended up being saved in exchange for his life.
Sandoval was posthumously awarded with the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor on December 20, 2017. He was among the heroes who were given a tribute during an earlier ceremony in front of the Heroes Memorial in Camp Aguinaldo.
Nine officers were also given Commendation Medals and Ribbons for their extraordinary acts of service and exceptional contributions to the country through various military operations in the five-month long battle against the Maute-ISIS terrorists.
They were Major General Generoso Ponio, Brigadier General Romeo Brawner Jr., Colonel Pompeyo Jason Almagro, Colonel Antonio Rota Jr., Lieutenant Colonel Jason Jumawan, Major Christopher Manimtim, Lieutenant Commander Noah Torres, Captain Jennylyn Tamacay, and Corporal Eric Collado.
A Commendation Medal and Ribbon was also granted to the 55th Engineer “Mangumpiya” Brigade "for their meritorious and valuable achievements in the pursuit of providing Engineer Support Operation" in Marawi City that led to various socio-economic achievements after the siege.
Army Corporals Edison Caturan and Johnson Federizon were also bestowed with the Wounded Personnel Medal for having been wounded in action as members of the Special Forces Operations Course Class 135-16 against the Maute-ISIS terrorists.
Gapay, along with major service commanders, laid wreaths at the Heroes Memorial at Camp Aguinaldo as soldiers performed a 21 Gun Salute in honor of their comrades who died for the liberation of Marawi.
"It is truly an honor to stand here and be in the presence of these heroes; the very men and women who, without any reservation, have put the welfare of the people of Marawi before their own; who endured days and nights of fighting on the ground while carrying the heavy weight of the future of a city on their shoulders," Gapay said.
"Your sacrifices and those of our fallen comrades have not been in vain as you have carved your marks deep in our history. And these shall continue to serve as a testament to our unrelenting and shall also serve as inspiration in our continued fight against threats to our country’s peace and security," he added.
The Marawi siege is cosidered as the longest urban warfare in the modern history of the country.
What started as a plan to catch Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader Isnilon Hapilon ended up in a bloodbath between the military and local terrorists who were aided by foreign terrorists.
The siege started on May 23, 2017 and ended on October 17, 2017 with President Duterte's confirmation of the death of Hapilon and Maute Group leader, Omar Maute.
On October 23, 2017, Defense Secretary Defin Lorenzana announced the end of the Marawi siege, with more than 1,100 individuals killed -- 900 of them belonging to the terrorist groups -- and 1,400 wounded.