Zamboanga hero leads TOPS ’15

From the Business Mirror (Jun 22): Zamboanga hero leads TOPS ’15

THE commander of one of the military’s elite units, who was instrumental in ending the occupation by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighters of at least six barangays of Zamboanga City, led this year’s awardees for the Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) sponsored by the Metro Bank Foundation.

Col. Danilo Pamonag, commander of the Army’s Light Reaction Regiment (LRR), was cited for his role as the senior military commander who stopped the attack and occupation of MNLF fighters of the six barangays of Zamboanga City in 2013.

More than a hundred Moro fighters and soldiers were killed during the intense fighting as the troops cleared the barangays of the attackers.

“In 2013 his leadership was vigorously tested when a number of rogue MNLF members stormed Zamboanga City holding civilian hostages and human shields,” the citation reads for Pamonag.

“As the commander of the Armed Forces’ counterterrorism unit, he was able to successfully guide and motivate his men to accomplish their mission of rescuing more than 162 hostages, capturing more than 160 MNLF fighters and recovering high-powered firearms without leaving any of his men behind,” it added.

Aside from his role in the Zamboanga City siege, Pamonag’s peace advocacy and his achievements in establishing strong and good relationship between the Armed Forces and other foreign militaries.

Pamonag served as Dohuk Sector commander in the United Nations Mission in Iraq and “went out of his way despite security risks to conduct dialogues with the locals which helped promote peace and order in the area.”

Aside from Pamonag, the other awardees were Master Sgts. Ariel Cariaga and Ferdinand Lascano from the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces (Isafp); Marine Col. Ariel Caculitan; Technical Sgt. Romel Bancairin; Disbursing Clerk 3 Dennis Gurrea of the Naval Intelligence Security Force; Col. Maxima Ignacio; Senior Master Sgt. Romeo Austria; Staff Sgt. Adriano Reginales Jr. and Maj. Jonna Dalaguit.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/zamboanga-hero-leads-tops-15/