Reinforcement troops in Mamasapano given awards, spot promotion

MANILA, Philippines—Soldiers who reinforced beleaguered Special Action Force troops in Mamasapano on January were awarded and one was given a spot promotion by no less than the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Wednesday during his visit to Maguindanao.

One officer and four enlisted personnel were awarded with Gold Cross Medals for reinforcing and extracting members of the 84th Seaborne Company on Jan. 25, said Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

The Gold Cross Medal is the third highest award for combat.

Another enlisted personnel was awarded with Bronze Cross Medal.

Their efforts “led to the retrieval and rescue of the members of the 84th SAC who at that time has already suffered eight killed, 11 wounded and 17 unharmed troops when rescued,” Petinglay said.

Sgt. Whikmer Jaranilla of 63nd Division Reconnaisance Company, who led a rescue operation, was given a spot promotion.

According to Petinglay, Catapang in his message said he “intends to give due recognition to officers and personnel who dutifully fulfill their duties despite the risk involved in their given tasks and responsibilities.”

The military is blamed for delayed reinforcements during a botched police raid in Mamasapano in Maguindanao on Jan. 25. The covert operation, which was kept from the military, targeted top terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Basit Usman and left 44 SAF troops, 18 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and five civilians killed.