BACOLOD CITY – Six wounded soldiers were awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal (WPM) for their bravery and heroism in the series of encounters with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental from Oct. 6 to 8.
Department of Defense officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. pinned the medal in a private hospital here on Sunday, Oct. 9, assisted by Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commanding general of the Philippine Army, Major Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 3rd Infantry Division (ID), and Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde).
Faustino recognized the bravery and selfless dedication of the operating troops in securing and protecting the people of Himamaylan City against the extortion, deceptive recruitment of minors, and other terroristic activities of the NPA.
The wounded soldiers are from the 94th Infantry “Mandirigma” Battalion (IB) who clashed with the NPA while pursuing them on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Two soldiers were killed in the encounter.
Arevalo lauded the heroism of the wounded soldiers who risked their lives in pursuit of just and lasting peace in Negros.
“These medals will remind us of the bravery and heroic deeds you have displayed for the people of Negros Island to continue living in peace,” Arevalo said.
He said that their gallantry will also motivate them to continue their quest in ending the local communist armed conflict to fulfill the Negrenses’ fervent desire for a Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-free community.
Pasaporte said that the medal symbolizes their bravery in facing the enemy and selfless dedication on their oath to protect the people and the country.
“As your brigade commander, I want to recognize your collective efforts, and may this simple occasion motivate you to do more and perform well on your next mission,” Pasaporte said.
He urged them to continue their efforts in going after the NPA.