• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 606th Special Forces Company (SFC), an elite unit of the Philippine Army, marked yesterday the 35th anniversary of the historic Sitio Manipolon raid against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Pandanon, Murcia, Negros Occidental.
According to records of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), this feat not only highlights the effectiveness of the 606th SFC, but also sets a new benchmark in the AFP’s long-standing counterinsurgency campaign against the communist rebels.
“Its success remains unsurpassed in the history of the AFP,” it added.
On April 6, 1990, troops led by then Capt. Arturo Ortiz confronted a numerically superior group of about 200 NPA rebels.
This did not deter Ortiz and his men, including CAFGU personnel, from conducting a nighttime military operation against the then largest training camp of NPA in Negros Island.
Under the cover of darkness, Ortiz led his troops on a grueling 11-hour cross-country march, scaling a 1,000-foot high cliff, enabling his units to infiltrate the rebel position as close as 10 meters to the NPA camp while avoiding booby traps and claymore mines.
The two hours of gunbattle led to the death of 84 rebels, capture of eight others, and recovery of 33 assorted high-powered guns, eight claymore mines, fragmentation grenades, thousands of ammunition and communication equipment. On the side of the government, only one trooper was slightly injured.
“The lessons learned and the strategies employed during the highly successful military operation continue to inform and enhance the AFP’s counterinsurgency tactics today,” the military said.
Ortiz was conferred the Medal of Valor, the highest Philippine military honor, by then President Corazon Aquino in 1991.
“As we reflect on this significant event, it is essential to honor the bravery and dedication of those who served in the 606th SFC and to recognize the ongoing efforts of the military in maintaining peace and security in the country,” the AFP further said. | GB
