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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider 66 troopers feted for efforts vs Reds

66 troopers feted for efforts vs Reds

Published Sep 13, 2023 09:28 am

CEBU CITY – Sixty-six soldiers belonging to the 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) and 303rd IB were awarded “for their efforts and sacrifices” in the fight against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Central and Western Visayas. 

AFP AWARDEES.jpg

LT. Gen. Benedict Arevalo (center), commander of the Armed Forces Visayas Command, pins a medal on one of the 66 soldiers awarded for their active involvement in the fight against insurgency. (Calvin D. Cordova)

The Armed Forces-Visayas Command (Viscom) awarded 37 soldiers comprised of five officers, 31 enlisted personnel, and two Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary members with the Gold Cross Medal for their gallantry in action during encounters against the NPA. 

Twenty-eight soldiers – nine officers and 19 enlisted personnel – were awarded with the Silver Cross Medal for their distinguished achievement and heroism in the conduct of special operations against the terrorist group. 

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Viscom commander, conferred the awards to the soldiers when he visited the headquarters of the two brigades on Tuesday, September 12.

“Conferring awards to our soldiers is our way of keeping them highly motivated and focused on our campaign. This is to assure them that their efforts and sacrifices in the fight against the CPP-NPA are properly recognized,” said Arevalo.

On September 7, the 47th Infantry Battalion and 21st Special Forces Company (Riverine) figured a series of encounters with suspected NPA rebels in  Sitio Ilaud, Barangay Campagao, Bilar, Bohol.

Six NPA members were killed and seven high-powered firearms were recovered during the gunfight. 

“These awards manifest the strong dedication and steadfast commitment of our soldiers in accomplishing our mandate of ending the local communist armed conflict while sustaining peace and fostering development for all the people in the region,” Arevalo added. 

Arevalo reiterated the government’s call for the NPA to return to the fold of the law.

“We will remain highly motivated in our campaign to end the menace of the CPP-NPA in the Visayas region. We will never stop, and we will continue to push harder. Thus, we urge the few remaining members of the CPP-NPA to lay down their arms now and return to the folds of the law while they still have the chance,” Arevalo said.

Related Tags

Central Visayas Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo Visayas Command New People's Army Western Visayas
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