Soldiers, cops awarded in Marawi City

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (October 24, 2017) - Soldiers and policemen, who were on the front line during the five-month offensives against Daesh-inspired fighters in Marawi City, were awarded by the WestMinCom commander as fighting comes to an end, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay

Disclosed that last October 21, 18 personnel of the 2nd and 3rd Scout Ranger Battalions and the Joint Task Group Bakal were accorded the Gold Cross Medal by Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command. The said soldiers were recognized for their conspicuous gallantry in action, courage, dedication, and commitment during the conduct of the close-quarter battle with more or less 1,000 members of the Maute-Abu Sayyaf Group- Islamic State of Iraq and Syria for almost five months in Marawi City.

Cpt Petinglay said that on Sunday (October 22), five soldiers of the 10th Infantry Battalion and the Joint Task Group Vector were awarded the Gold Cross Medals. The same award was also given to Police Senior Inspector Seth Mark Alob and Police Officer 3 Isah Sangcad of the PNP.

Police Superintendent Rolando Anduyan and Police Superintendent Danilo Bacas received the Silver Cross Medal from Lieutenant General Galvez, Jr. for imminently meritorious and valuable achievement rendered while serving as Joint Task Group PNP Commander and Asst Commander, who led the numerous accomplishments of the PNP during the Marawi Crisis.

The Command Plaque was awarded to Brigadier General Vinluan, Commander of the Joint Task Force Vector; Police Senior Superintendent Anduyan, commander of the Joint Task Group, and Brigadier General Budiongan, commander of the JTG Bakal, and other battalion commanders for their sterling leadership while leading their troops during the battle.

The five-month stand-off yielded to the neutralization of 920 terrorists, rescue of 1,780 hostages, and recovery of more than 800 high-powered firearms and almost 2,000 unexploded ordnances, improvised explosive devices and booby traps of the terrorists, she added.

“Congratulations, Marawi troopers, for making the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Filipinos proud. Your commitment and gallantry liberated the City of Marawi and the Maranaos from terrorism,” said Lieutenant General Galvez, Jr. “I thank you for your service and sacrifices. I am so proud of you all.”

The awarding ceremony was more jubilant after the WestMinCom Chief announced that the Secretary of the National Defense, Delfin Lorenzana, informed him of the FBI’s DNA test result.

“I am pleased to announce that Sec Lorenzana informed me, it is Isnilon Hapilon. We finally got him. IH is officially dead,” LtGen Galvez said.