24 ‘hero’ Army soldiers honored

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 28): 24 ‘hero’ Army soldiers honored

The Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10th ID) honored on Thursday 24 soldiers who risked their lives in evacuating typhoon victims in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley during the surge of super typhoon "Pablo". A bronze cross medal was awarded to each of the 24 soldiers, who belong to the Charlie Company of AFP's 66th Infantry Battalion (66th IB) under Lt. Col. Antonino Florendo. The awarding ceremony was held at Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Davao City for the 15 soldiers who suffered minor injuries while another awarding rite was held simultaneously at the V. Luna General Hospital in Quezon City for the nine other soldiers who are recovering from severe injuries.

Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, 10th ID commander, in a press conference, said the soldiers deserved to be honored as they had risked their lives in conducting preemptive evacuation in Barangay Poblacion. "During the disaster, they were tasked to conduct preemptive evacuation. Unfortunately, naging biktima din sila ng flashflood doon sa battalion quarters sa Barangay Poblacion," Bernardo said. Posthumous awards were also given to the seven soldiers who died during the search operations for four missing soldiers.

Cash assistance coming from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV will also be given to the soldiers who were hit by the flashfloods. AFP is set to give a total of P8-million to the soldiers and will be divided based on the seriousness of the injuries. Trillanes, on the other hand, will shell out P10,000 each for the families of the fallen soldiers while P100,000 will be divided to the 24 injured soldiers. The 10th ID is continuing to work with different government and non-government agencies in conducting relief, rehabilitation and livelihood programs in the areas affected by the typhoon.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=483086