Twenty-four soldiers and two Aspins who served as tracking dogs were given gallantry medals by the Visayas Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday, September 12, for their contribution to the arrest of rebels in various encounters in Bohol and Negros.
Visayas Commander Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo awarded the Gold Cross Medal to ten Spearhead Troopers, while 14 others were given Silver Cross Medals during his visit to the 302nd Infantry Brigade headquarters in Tanjay, Negros Oriental, and the 303rd Infantry Brigade HQ in Murcia, Negros Occidental.
Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, 3rd Division Public Affairs Office chief, told DIGICAST NEGROS that the awards were given in recognition of the performance of the soldiers in the field.
He said among the Gold Cross Medal recipients were five officers and five enlisted personnel from the 94th, 47th, and 62nd Infantry Battalions.
The 14 Silver Cross Medal awardees were also officers and enlisted personnel from 94IB, 62IB, and 79IB.
The members of the 302nd Infantry Brigade recently neutralized six NPA terrorists and recovered seven high-powered firearms in a series of encounters in Bilar, Bohol.
The “Military Working Dog Achievement Medals” were also given to two dogs named “Mugie” and “Puti” as they played a major role during the conduct of a pursuit operation in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, on August 26, Javines said.
The dogs’ help led to the discovery of one cadaver of an NPA terrorist, an M653 rifle, four anti-personnel mines, and other subversive documents at Sitio Taleo, Brgy Milagrosa in Sta. Catalina, he said.
“Like any other soldier, they too deserve to be recognized for their significant contributions,” Arevalo said during the awarding of the dogs.
“They manifest a high sense of loyalty and dedication to duty”, he said.*