President Aquino honors soldiers who fought in
Zamboanga City siege
For their unparalleled sacrifice in coming to
the defense of Zamboanga City from armed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
rebels, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday conferred awards to the
officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in
a ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Sixteen out of more than 2,000 soldiers who
successfully accomplished their mission in the 18-day Zamboanga crisis last
September personally received the honor from the Commander-in-Chief shortly
after a flag-raising event.
Lieutenant Colonel Oriel Pangcog (Battalion
Commander of Joint Special Operations Task Group Arrow) and Captain Reynir
Nirza (AFP Joint Operations Group) were the two recipients of the Distinguished
Conduct Star award for their acts of courage in the face of the enemy.
The Distinguished Service Star award was given
to Lieutenant General Rey Ardo (Western Mindanao Command), Brigadier General
Rodelio Santos (Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations), and Lieutenant Colonel
Ramon Zagala (Chief, AFP Public Affairs Office) for their valuable service
during the crisis.
The Gold Cross medal, meanwhile, was
posthumously awarded to Army First Lieutenant Francis Damian who died after
sustaining gunshot wounds inflicted by members of the MNLF Misuari faction
during an encounter. His wife, Lieutenant junior grade Army Leslie Damian,
received the honor on his behalf.
Other recipients of this award include Army
First Lieutenant Jerson Jurilla, Marine First Lieutenant Dexter Carin, and Navy
Lieutenant junior grade Joey Cayao, along with enlisted personnel Army Sergeant
Larry Lopez, Navy F1MR Abelardo Angelo, Air Force Sergeant Salvador Codon, Jr.
and Army Staff Sergeant Allan Adap.
Corporal Eduardo Saquing, Jr., who died in the
height of the crisis, was also given the Gold Cross medal posthumously and
received by his father, Mr. Eduardo Saquing, Sr.
Major Caezar Almer Candelaria was awarded the
Bronze Cross medal for his acts of heroism involving risks of life as team
leader of the Medical Team, Special Operations Task Group.
Air Force Major Renie Aureo and Army Captain
Dranreb Lansang were given the Military Merit medal with Bronze Spearhead
Device, while Marine Private First Class Eduardo Jose received the Wounded
Personnel medal.
In his speech, President Aquino conveyed his
deepest gratitude to every soldier and policeman who fought courageously to
protect the welfare of the citizens in Zamboanga.
“Habambuhay pong babantayog ang inyong
dedikasyon at propesyonalismo sa kasaysayan. Magsisilbi kayong huwaran ‘di
lamang ng kasalukuyang henerasyon kundi maging ng susunod na salinlahi,” he
said.
Monday’s awarding ceremony at the AFP
headquarters was just one among the many tributes set for the 2,473 soldiers
who participated in resolving the said crisis either in administrative or
combat capacity. PND (hdc)
President Aquino commends Defense Secretary
Gazmin, AFP for their dedicated services to the country
President Benigno S. Aquino III extolled
National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin along with the 220,000-strong Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their dedicated services to the country at
a public ceremony held Monday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief
particularly cited the efforts rendered by Gazmin in leading the government’s
military operations to thwart the forces of the armed Moro National Liberation
Front (MNLF) rebels during the Zamboanga City crisis last September.
“Nang pumutok ang kaguluhan sa Zamboanga City,
kayo pong mga sundalo’t pulis ang inaasahang unang rumesponde para sa ating mga
kababayan. At heto nga po ang ating DND (Department of National Defense) kasama
ang AFP, DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) at PNP (Philippine
National Police), dali-daling nag-report po sa akin si Secretary Volts.
Hindi po siya nag-atubiling akuin ang tungkulin
na pumronta sa ating hanay. Kayo nga po ang tanungin ko: Sinong hindi matutuwa
sa tulad niyang walang pinipiling panahon sa paglilingkod?” President Aquino
said in a speech.
The President added he was very confident with
the combined expertise and talents of Gazmin and AFP Chief of Staff Emmanuel
Bautista that they would effectively spoil the evil plans of the rebel group.
“Alam kong nasa mabuting kamay ang mga operasyon
at istratehiya natin dahil walang takot at laging in-control itong si Secretary
Volts,” he said.
The President also valued greatly the
contributions of every single man and woman of the AFP during the Zamboanga
City crisis, adding that the government’s strategy in combating the MNLF forces
would have not worked had they not stood in the line of fire.
“Sa bawat ulat nga pong natatanggap ko mula sa
inyo nung mga araw na iyon, di ko maiwasang isipin: Kamusta na kaya ang tayo ng
ating mga kawal? Tinugunan po ninyo ito ng ipinamalas ninyong tatag at husay
para isakatuparan ang ating istratehiya. Matagumpay ninyong nilimitahan ang mga
lugar na hawak ng rebelde, at ‘di na hinayaang makapasok ang iba pang
nagbabantang pangkat,” he stressed.
The President mentioned that even as Zamboanga
City is now free from the reins of the rebellious forces, the government will
continue sending assistance to its people as part of the ongoing rehabilitation
of the city.
“Walang patid ang paghahatid natin ng pagkain,
tubig, at serbisyong medikal sa mga apektadong komunidad. Katuwang ang ating
mga sundalo’t pulis, ibabangon natin ang Lungsod ng Zamboanga mula sa nagdaang
trahedya, at magkakasama nating itataguyod ang kapayapaan sa kalakhang bansa,”
he said.
Given the many difficult challenges conquered by
the AFP in the past, the President said his complete trust and confidence on
the organization remains.
“Tiwala akong sa mga darating pang hamon, iisa
pa rin ang magiging kumpas ng sambayanang Pilipino: Pilit mang idiskaril ng
iilan ang pag-usad natin sa tuwid na daan, isang bansa pa rin tayong tatahak sa
landas ng katuwiran, katotohanan, at katarungan.
At siguro po sa nalalapit na AFP Day inaasahan ko
na lalo pang mare-recognize ang mga taong talaga naman pong masasabi nating
dakilang bayani ng sambayanan. Asahan po niyo na kung yun man lang ang
magagawang pasasalamat ng talaga namang nag-uumapaw na pagtanggap sa inyong
kadakilaan—gagawin po ng estado,” the President said. PND (hdc)
President Aquino welcomes officials of Marubeni
Corporation who committed to enhance business operations in the country
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed
officials of a Japanese trading company who reiterated their commitment to
enhance its business operations in the country during a ceremony in Malacanang
on Monday.
Marubeni Corporation Chairman of the Board Teruo
Asada and his team paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive in a simple
ceremony at the Malacanang Palace's Music Room.
Joining Asada were Fumiya Kokubu, President and
Chief Executive Officer; Mamoru Sekiyama, Vice Chairman; Shigeru Yamazoe,
Senior Managing Executive Officer; Michihiko Ota, Senior Executive Vice
President and Regional CEO for ASEAN, Southwest Asia and East Asia and Managing
Director of the Marubeni ASEAN Pte. Ltd. and Takashi Ishigami, President and
CEO Marubeni Philippines Corporation.
Also in attendance were Trade Secretary Gregory
Domingo and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla.
During the meeting, Asada expressed gratitude to
President Aquino for personally meeting him and his officials.
Marubeni Corporation started overseas activities
in Manila, Philippines in 1909 as trader of textile and abaca. Branches in Cebu
and Iloilo in the 1920's and Davao in the 1930's were opened to begin the
network in the country.
In 1967, Daido Boeki and Daiken Sangyo (now
known as Marubeni Philippines Corp.) was granted a branch status by the
Philippines' Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). And in 1996, Marubeni
Philippines Corporation was incorporated under Philippine laws.
Today, Marubeni Philippines Corporation remains
one of the oldest and the most important among Marubeni's network of companies
worldwide. PND (js)
