A total of 174 soldiers and members of active auxiliary units received Military Merit Medals after neutralizing suspected members of the New People’s Army, including a top leader, in Negros Island in two rites held in Negros Island on Saturday, November 12.
Forty-three soldiers and 11 CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion received their medals at the 62nd IB headquarters in Barangay Liba, Isabela in Negros Occidental, Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry “Spearhead” Division commander, said Sunday, November 13.
Arevalo said 120 soldiers and four CAA members of the 94th IB in Negros Oriental also received medals on Saturday.
The Military Merit Medals with Bronze Spearhead Device were awarded to the personnel for the successful encounters in Guihulnghan City, Negros Oriental, in October against the rebels that resulted to the deaths of two NPA members and seizure of several firearms.
Medals were also given to the 62IB soldiers for their operations in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, that resulted to the death of Romeo Nanta, alias Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of Kometing Rehiyon – Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS).
“I would like to congratulate you for your job well done. This is an indication of the quality of the unit in terms of your leadership, teamwork and excellence…let’s keep our aggressiveness to run after these remaining armed group,” Arevalo said.
Meanwhile, 25 former rebels received a total of P250,000 from the local government unit of Himamaylan City on November 11.
The cash assistance and educational assistance program of the LGU aims to provide immediate support to the families affected by the local armed conflict while their Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) is on process.
Through this intervention, the former rebels are given P10,000 each to sustain the day-to-day living of their families.*