Major General Edmundo Pangilinan. MAILA AGER/INQUIRER.net
AN ARMY general who came under fire for his slow response to the police plea for reinforcements during the 2015 Mamasapano massacre will be awarded for promoting internal peace and security.
Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, will receive the Gawad sa Kapayaan at the Philippine Army’s 119th anniversary today.
Pangilinan, of Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, is one of 24 awardees.
President Aquino is the guest of honor.
Pangilinan, 55, will be recognized for promoting internal peace and security in his role as 6th ID commander and concurrent commander of Joint Task Force Central.
‘Exceptional leadership’
The Army cited Pangilinan’s “exceptional leadership, managerial acumen and incessant motivation” in helping foster peace in Central Mindanao.
Last year, Pangilinan came under fire for his slow response to the Special Action Force’s appeal for help while the elite police unit was arresting Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The military’s delayed response resulted in the death of 44 SAF commandos at the hands of Moro fighters on Jan. 25 last year. Bin Hir was killed in the operation. Eighteen Moro gunmen and five civilians also died in the clash.
Pangilinan said he held artillery fire until his unit had the details of the battle’s exact location, saying there were friendly forces in the area.
Aside from Pangilinan, the Army will honor 12 officers and enlisted personnel, two militia members, two cadets, a policeman and six civilians.
They are Col. Juvymax Uy, chief of the Army’s Intelligence and Security Group; Col. Francisco Millare, commanding officer of the 77th Infantry Battalion; 1Lt. Dionizer Mark de los Santoso, platoon leader of the 41st Infantry Battalion; Lt. Col. Rosendo Abad, commander of the 6th Special Forces Co.; 2Lt. Franz Arvin Balmaceda, platoon leader of the 73rd Infantry Battalion; Cpl. Cliforduin Bade, gunner of the 8th Scout Ranger Battalion; Lt. Col. Wilfredo Manalang, chief of the Strategy Evaluation Branch of the Army’s strategy management office; Army Col. Cirilito Sobejana; Pfc. Leonel Torrel of the 49th Infantry Battalion; Sgt. Victorio Ang of the 403rd Infantry Brigade; Pfc. Erenio Besonia Jr., rifleman of the 4th Infantry Division; and 1Lt. Abdul Dumpao.