AFP confers medals on officers in Zambo ops vs. MNLF

From GMA News (Dec 19): AFP confers medals on officers in Zambo ops vs. MNLF

Over a hundred military officers received medals on Thursday for the successful operations against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters in Zamboanga City last September.

Fifteen of the 118 awardees received the Distinguished Conduct Star (DCS) medals, the second highest decoration in combat next to the Medal of Valor.

These included Lt. Col. Melencio Ragudo of the AFP Joint Special Operations Group and Lt. Col. Zaldy Dioneda of the 3rd Marine Battalion Landing Team.

“This is a recognition of their efforts, their sacrifices,” said Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista told reporters after the awarding ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo.

Bautista and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin pinned the medals to the deserving troops.

Bautista said more than 2,000 soldiers have been given medals over the past months for their role in combating the MNLF forces that lay siege in Zamboanga City for three weeks last September.

“This is one of the biggest, if not the biggest accomplishment of our Armed Forces in recent history because of the number of hostages we rescued and the number of enemies we neutralized,” said Bautista of the Zamboanga offensive.

Close to 200 people were killed while thousands were forced out of their homes when MNLF forces loyal to founding chairman Nur Misuari occupied several villages in Zamboanga City allegedly to declare independence.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/340532/news/nation/afp-confers-medals-on-officers-in-zambo-ops-vs-mnlf