Saturday, November 21, 2015

Released army soldier feted by a hero’s welcome, gets promoted

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 21): Released army soldier feted by a hero’s welcome, gets promoted

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan De Oro City – The military feted a hero’s welcome to the army soldier who was released Friday by the New People’s Army (NPA) after being held captive for 132 days in the mountains of Misamis Oriental.

Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao, commander of the army’s 4th Infantry Division here, also promoted Private First Class Adonis Jess Lupeba, 26, to a rank of Corporal during the welcome ceremony at the army’s parade ground here Saturday morning.

The New People’s Army (NPA) captured Lupeba during a firefight in the hinterland village of Alagatan in Gingoog City sometime on July 11, 2015.

During the encounter, a soldier was killed and two other civilians wounded as the armed skirmishes took place in the heart of the village where innocent civilians and children lived.

Sensing that the continued firefight would kill more civilians and children, Lupeba surrendered and offered himself to be taken captive in exchange for the safety of the civilians.

The NPA rebels released Lupeba in the mountains of Sugbongcogon in Misamis Oriental last Friday after 132 days in captivity through the efforts of the third party negotiating panel and the provincial government of Misamis Oriental.

During the hero’s welcome ceremony Saturday morning, Lactao congratulated Lupeba for saving the people of Alagatan.

“For the people in Northern Mindanao, this is the kind of soldier who are serving you – a soldier with great respect of human rights and the rule of law,” Lactao said as he ordered the promotion of Lupiba to a rank higher.Lactao said that the military, as exemplified by the heroic acts of Lupiba, is always ready to protect the people in order to ensure that no threat would disrupt "your peaceful communities."

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=829773

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