ILOILO City – Twenty soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion based in Camp Monteclaro, Barangay Igtuba, Miag-ao, Iloilo were awarded for fending off New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Barangay Umingan, Alimodian town. They killed two rebels.
The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Benedict Arevalo, presented the Military Merit Medal with Spearhead Device award to 20 soldiers – one official and 19 non-officials – at Camp Monteclaro on Monday, Nov. 7.
The soldiers clashed with nine armed men allegedly under the Sibat Platoon, Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay around 12 noon on Oct. 28.
They also recovered two M16 armalite rifles, four backpacks, a rifle grenade, a bandolier, six M16 magazines, and subversive documents.
Arevalo lauded the boldness of the operating troops.
“The success of this operation is a team effort of the troops and the people who persistently give information on the location of the enemies,” Arevalo said.
He also acknowledged the intelligence, mentoring, planning, command and control of his men./PN
