THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has awarded Campaign Streamer Award to AFP units in Western Mindanao for their exceptional achievements in the fight against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists.
Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), led the awarding ceremony Friday evening, February 26, 2021, at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an to the awardee military units for the successful dismantling of four NPA Guerrilla Fronts in Western Mindanao area.
Camp Major Cesar Sang-an houses the 1st Infantry Division headquarters in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The awardee units were the 44th, 97th, 42nd, and 53rd infantry battalions. Also included in the list of awardees are the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion; 1st Intelligence Service Unit; 1st Field Artillery Battalion; 1st Civil-Military Operations Battalion; Military Intelligence Group-10; 14th Air Intelligence Battalion; K9 Battalion; 1st Cavalry Battalion; 1st Signal Battalion of the Army Signal Regiment; 1st Forward Support Medical Company; and, the Tactical Operations Group-9.
Vinluan said the awardee-units are under the command of Westmincom’s Joint Task Force (JTF)-ZamPeLan and 102nd Infantry Brigade.
Vinluan lauded the awardees for their relentless efforts that led to the dismantling of the four NPA guerrilla fronts.
He also commended the exceptional leadership of Brigadier General Leonel Nicolas and Major General Generoso Ponio, commanders of the 102nd Infantry Brigade and JTF ZamPeLan, respectively.
He enjoined all units to continue working as a team and nurture the gains of their campaign not only to win peac, but to pave the way for new opportunities.
“Remain steadfast and focused as we fulfill our mission of ending terrorism and insurgency and bringing about lasting peace and progress here in Mindanao,” he added.
Newly promoted Colonel Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, Westmincom information officer, said the Campaign Streamer Award is an award given by the AFP chief-of-staff to recognize particular major achievements or events of military units, such as the dismantling of guerrilla fronts and other threats in their respective area of operation.
Delos Santos said this decoration reflects campaign participation credit to and is displayed at the recipient’s flag. (SunStar Zamboanga)