BACOLOD CITY: A total of 80 soldiers involved in a recent clash in central Negros that left 10 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels dead have each received a Military Medal of Merit from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilo Sobejana. Sobejana gave out the awards during his visit to the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) in Barangay Libas, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on March 25. Capt. Cenon Pancito, public affairs chief of the 3rd Infantry Division, said Sobejana thanked the troops for their efforts in bringing genuine peace to every Negrense. “We are happy for the visit of no less than the father of the whole Armed Forces. It showed his utmost concern to all soldiers. It will always be a morale booster for every Spearhead troop to see commanders on the ground. It was a pat on our back for a job well done,” Pancito added. The recipients of the medal of merit were soldiers from the 62Ist Infantry Battalion, headed by the commanding officer, Lt. Col. Melvin Flores, as well as troops from the 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company and the 16th Scout Ranger Company. They clashed with some 40 NPA fighters in Sitio Agit, Barangay Trinidad in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on March 23. Pancito said Sobejana, who hails from Negros, has seen the insurgency problem on the island first hand. He added they plan to “liberate Negros Island before the year 2022.”
