- BERT BAYORAN
Top officials of the Philippine military, led by Defense Department officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. yesterday arrived in Negros Occidental to boost the morale of Army soldiers, who led the internal security operations in the island.
Faustino also led AFP top officials in giving honors to the bravery of slain and injured soldiers, for protecting the people of Himamaylan City from the terroristic activities of the New People’s Army rebels.
Accompanied by AFP chief of staff, Gen. Vicente Bartolome Bacarro, Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd Infantry Division commander, Faustino personally led the awarding of Wounded Personnel Medal to each of the six injured members of the 94th Infantry Battalion in a private hospital in Bacolod City.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who witnessed the awarding ceremony, said that an initial financial assistance was also extended to the families of the two slain soldiers, who came from Iloilo and Guimaras.
Pasaporte said that the visit of the DND and top AFP officials to the injured soldiers is a morale booster for the Army troops, who are running after the NPA in Negros island.
“It assures them (soldiers) that they are being taken care of by the government,” Pasaporte said.
The 94IB already figured in four armed clashes with the NPA in the hinterlands of Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, from Oct. 6 to 8, that resulted in the temporary displacement of more than 1,700 individuals, who are now staying in evacuation centers.
Pasaporte said they are not yet allowing affected residents to return to their respective areas until these are cleared by the Army.
He lauded the leadership of Mayor Raymund Tongson and the Department of Social Welfare and Development for immediately addressing the basic and food needs of the displaced individuals.
As of this time, the hunt is still on for the fleeing NPA rebels, Pasaporte said./GB
