Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Arroyo awards 20 soldiers, cops in visit By Lizanilla J. Amarga
OVER 20 "modern-day heroes" from the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Monday were given special medals in Cagayan de Oro by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"They are the classic examples of those have been in the thick of battles against our enemies of the worst kind," the President said in her speech during the Commemoration of the National Heroes Day held at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan gymnasium Monday.
She said these heroes cannot even personally accept the special medals -- Golden Cross Award for the AFP and Medalya ng Kagalingan for the Philippine National Police (PNP) -- because the awardees were either killed or are still at the hospitals or at home due to some handicap suffered after combat operations against rebels and terrorists especially those Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah elements.
Those who were awarded with Gold Cross Medals are: Ruben B. Bamuevo; Mario C. Fillarca; Noel T. Nuestro; Wilbert M. Guijaro; Poncito L. Marcos; Robert V. Adlawan; and Muhaimin A. Hamsiraji.
The posthumous award given to Bamuevo was accepted by his parents who expressed their deep appreciation for such honors bestowed upon their son.
A posthumous promotion was accorded to SPO3 Basil L. Isad from the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, which was accepted by his mother Langka Isad.
A Medalya ng Kagalingan was awarded to SPO1 Danilo Nobelfranca, Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao, who was killed in action. The award was accepted by his wife Corazon Nobelfranca.
The other awardees from the PNP personnel ranks who also received Medalya ng Kagalingan include: Angel Sumagaysay; Munici Askail; Rodney Barte; Marcelino Vinson; Lemuel Magoncia; Kenneth Corsame; Atilo Salvan; Wilfredo Galupo; Sigfredo Sanchez; Dennis Jess Lumikid; Rey Idoy; and PO1 Ronie Villegas.
The awards were given by Arroyo as assisted by AFP chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon for those who accepted the Golden Cross Medals and PNP Director General Oscar Calderon for those who awardees of the Medalya ng Kagalingan.
The Golden Cross award for the AFP and the Medalya ng Kagalingan for the PNP are given to deserving soldiers and police officers for their extraordinary courage and gallantry in action.
These officers were even either wounded or killed in action, which is accepted by the AFP and the PNP as the highest state of discipline worthy of emulation by every member of their ranks.
