Article by:
Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – Some 24 troops of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) were awarded medals for their bravery and heroism during an encounter that led to the death of two Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) rebels in Isabela, Negros Occidental on March 9.
They received the Military Merit Medal from Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of 3rd Infantry Division, in rites at the battalion headquarters in Barangay Libas, Isabela on March 11.
As of Monday, two of the recipients, who sustained minor injuries, were already in stable condition.
Aside from receiving the Military Merit Medal, the injured were also bestowed the Wounded Personnel Medal by Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
“I congratulate all the awardees for a job well done. Continue your hard work, bravery, and efficiency. We don’t do this to become famous, we do it because it is our mission to secure peace and prosperity in our area of operations,” Arevalo said.
The recipients comprise the Scout Platoon led by 1Lt. Kim Hope Barquilla, who encountered about 10 communist-rebels, during a joint law enforcement operation with the Isabela police early morning on March 9 in Barangay Amin, Isabela.
The clash resulted in the deaths of Virgilio “Kumander Bedam” Tamban, commanding officer of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Platoon Lenovo of the NPA’s Leonardo Panaligan Command; and Ben Jack “Ka Yuhan” Rueles, a member of the Regional Striking Force of Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.
Tagged by the military as a “notorious hitman”, Tamban was tagged in the murder of five persons in central Negros last February 16 to March 2.
“The efforts of 62IB are very vital here in central Negros. Continue your efforts to push the CPP-NPA to lay down their arms and come back to the fold of the law. I congratulate your bravery and heroism,” Pasaporte said.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)
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