The two Army soldiers, who were injured in recent encounters with New People’s Army rebels in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, were conferred with Wounded Personnel Medal for Gallantry at Camp Lapu-lapu Station Hospital in Cebu City Nov. 8.
Maj. Gen. Robert Dauz, commanding general of the AFP Visayas Command, pinned the medals on the two soldiers, who are members of the 79th Infantry Battalion stationed in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
Two soldiers died and four others were injured in the twin clashes in Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla Nov. 3.
The slain and injured soldiers were evacuated from the encounter site by two Air Force Black Hawk helicopters, and brought to a hospital in Cebu City.
The encounters thwarted the plans of communist rebels to stage attacks and extortion activities in the area, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, earlier said.
Dauz, meanwhile, reminded the soldiers of his marching order of enforcing the rule of law, and encouraged them to remain motivated and steadfast to their mandate of protecting the Filipinos and the state. — GB
