PMA recognizes 9 outstanding Cavs

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Feb 24): PMA recognizes 9 outstanding Cavs

NINE Cavaliers were awarded during this year's Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming held Saturday.

Highlighted in this year's homecoming was the recognition given to nine outstanding Cavaliers who have shown exemplary performances in service.

The awardees were Cavaliers Felicuto Virgilio Trinidad Jr., Danilo Pamonag, Ronald Dela Rosa, Elpidio Factor, Inocencio Rosario Jr., Jonathan de Leon, Gremel Brual, Wilfred Nicolas and Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Cav. Ebdane of class 1970 was among the awardees recognized for his contributions as a public servant.

Ebdane was the Philippine National Police chief from 2002 to 2004; Director General of the National Security Council and the National Security Adviser for Operations from 2004 to 2005; Secretary of the Department of National Defense in 2007; Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in 2008; Secretary of Department of Public Works and Highways in 2008; and governor of Zambales from 2010 up to present.

Cav. Trinidad of PMA class 1992 was awarded for the Command and Administration category.

Trinidad served as a Commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division in the Philippine Army from 2009 to 2012, the Commander of the 1st Infantry Division from 2013 to 2014 and is at present the Commander of the Northern Luzon Command since 2014.

His role as the Overall Ground Commander of Joint Task Force "ZAMPELAN" of the Western Mindanao Command played a huge role during the Zamboanga City siege in 2013 as they were able to frustrate the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Group's attempt to capture the city.

For Army Operations, Cav. Pamonag of class 1995 was awarded for his service as a Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Special Operations Group.
During the Zamboanga City Siege, Pamonag led the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Vector which rescued 162 civilian hostages, arrested of 170 rogue MNLF elements and is account for the killing of 170 rogue MNLF elements.

For Police Operations, Cav. Dela Rosa of class 1986, was awarded for his several recognitions in service.

In the last five years, he was awarded the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations of the Year in 2010; the Achievement Award in the field of Police Operations in 2012; and the Medalya ng Pambihirang Paglilingkod for Anti-Terrorism in 2014, all by President Benigno Aquino III himself.

He also played a significant role in the neutralization of Montero Kidnap for Ransom Group and he also was also the man behind the implementation of Davao City's Oplan Tokhang (knock) and Oplan Taphang (gather and plead) which led to identification of 435 suspected drug affected houses and the gathering of 908 suspected drug personalities for counseling and advice.

Cav. Factor of PMA class 1995 was meanwhile awarded for his outstanding performance in Naval Operations.

This is evident in the titles his unit Marine Battalion Landing Team 3, which he led as a Battalion Commander, earned in different national security crisis operations. These monikers are the National Maneuver Force, Peace Catalyst of Ginoog, Heroes of Zamboanga and the Conqueror of Radulan Camp.

Presently, Facto is leading his unit in the southern part of Tawi-Tawi in safeguarding the country's territory against Malaysia and Indonesia.

For Coast Guard Operations, Cav. Rosario of class 1996 was given the award for his accomplishments like leading operations that led to the seizure of six pieces of M-14 rifle in South Harbor Manila in 2009 which was supposedly to be send for the Abu Sayyaf Group in Zamboanga City and an anti-smuggling operations in 2010 where more than 500,000 liters of lube oil amounting to P50M were apprehended.

For Air Force Operations, Cav. De Leon of class 2001 was recognized for his service with the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing and other units of the Air Force.

On top of the several awards he received such as as PAF Officer of the Year and 205H THW Officer of the Year in 2013, some of his major contributions was the Squadron Safety Program for CY 2014 which he crafted and his initiative for the creation and revision of Standard Operating Procedures on the Conduct of Para Jump Operations, SOP on Competency Drill, and SOP on Squadron Best-Best for aircraft.

For Special Operations, Cav. Brual, who is currently the Commander of the 17th Intelligence and Security Unit (Counter-Terrorism) of the Intelligence and Security Group of the Philippine Army.

His unit, under his supervision Commander led to the neutralization of Ibnu Gholib Ibghol, the highest ranking Jemaah Islamiya leader in the Philippines; MNLF member Daniel Cruz Xavier who was also the mastermind of the Zamboanga Siege; and seven Abu Sayyaf members.

In addition, Cav. Nicolas of class 1965 also received the award for Private Enterprise for his contributions as the Chairman of the Board of the Northern University in Laoag City which made it improve as an institution of higher learning education.

While there are 12 categories of awards, the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association only had nine this year as chairman Cav. Jose Maria Solquillo explained "The candidates in the three categories were not able to get the two thirds or 13 votes needed".

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2015/02/23/pma-recognizes-9-outstanding-cavs-393888