Top officials of the Department of National Defense and the Philippine Army visited the six injured soldiers in an encounter with the New People’s Army in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City. All six soldiers, confined at a Bacolod City hospital, received “Wounded Personnel Medals” on Sunday, October 9. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army)
BACOLOD CITY — Six wounded soldiers who were injured in an encounter with the New People’s Army in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental were given “Wounded Personnel Medals” by top government officials on Sunday, October 9.
Receiving the medals at the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod on Sunday were Corporal Joey Gardose, Private First Class (PFC) Rolly Rama, PFC June Fuentes, PFC Lander, Private Wilchor Recaña, and Sergeant Edgiel Ucag.
READ: 2 soldiers killed, 6 hurt in clash with NPA in Negros Occidental
Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said posthumous recognitions would also be given to the two other soldiers — Corporals Christian Drilon and Rex Verde — who died during the encounter.
Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. pinned the Wounded Personnel Medal medals on the injured along with Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff; Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Philippine Army commanding general; Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander; and Pasaporte.
Faustino lauded the bravery and selfless dedication of the operating troops of the 94 Infantry Battalion in securing and protecting the community of Himamaylan City against the atrocities and illegal recruitment of minors by the NPAs.
“The medal symbolizes your bravery in facing our enemy and selfless dedication on your oath to protect the people and the country,” Pasaporte said.