NFWM holds donning of Ranks and Awards to Sailors and Marines

PAGADIAN CITY (Feb. 6, 2019) - As one of the finest tradition of the Philippine Navy, Naval Forces Western Mindanao donned ranks and awards to the Fleet-Marine Personnel during the Monday Flag Raising Ceremony at Headquarters Naval Forces Western Mindanao on February 4, 2019.                                                  

        The Commander Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Rear Admiral Rene V Medina AFP, headed the donning of ranks to the newly promoted Enlisted Personnel and Awarding Ceremony to the gallant sailors and marines under the operational control of the Command. 

        The award of Bronze Cross Medal was given to Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 and 83rd Inshore Boat Company, Inshore Boat Battalion for the successful conduct of raid operations on November 23, 2018 which led to the neutralization of Alias Abu Nibras, a known Abu Sayyaf Group-Basilan Based Bomb maker, who is behind the Lamitan Bombing Incident last July 2018.

The members of the Seaborn Patrol Unit of Naval Station Romulo Espaldon also received the award of Bronze Cross Medal for the successful search and rescue operations to the victims of a distressed motorbanca at vicinity of Maasin, Zamboanga City on October 20, 2018.

        Military Merit Medal is given to the officers and men of Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu for services rendered during the conduct of security operations assisting the Commission on Elections on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) Plebiscite held on January 21.

        Military Merit Medal was also given to the Officers, Enlisted Personnel and Civilian Employees of Naval Forces Western Mindanao for attaining the highest rating among other Naval Operating Forces during the conduct of Annual General Inspection 2018.

        Further, the members of Basketball Team and the Men and Women Volleyball Team of Naval Forces Western also received the award of Military Commendation Medal for participating and winning as 1st Runner up in Basketball and Champion in Volleyball Women during the Inter-Government Agency Basketball and Volleyball tournament organized by the Office of the City Mayor, Zamboanga City that was held from Oct 2018 to January 2019. 

        In his message, the Commander, NFWM congratulated and commend the Sailors and Marines who have just promoted to the next higher rank as well as the awardees for the exemplary performance of their duty.

Rear Adm Medina also mentioned the recent bombing incident happened at Jolo Cathedral and Mosque at Brgy Talon Talon here in Zamboanga City and conveyed, "Our Armed Forces strongly condemns this treachery and we in Team NAVFORWEM is doing the best we can to help our operators in the ground in pursuing those perpetrators and prevent the same incident to happen again."

        Notwithstanding the threat posed by the recent incidents happened in the different areas of Western Mindanao, the Fleet-Marine Team is assured to stay vigilant and on guard at all times, as to sustain the highest level of readiness for any possible situation that may arise in order to protect the people and the region. (By JONG CADION with NFW PAO PR and photos)