MARINES Lt. Col. Wilfredo Manalang, who played a role in the government’s all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Central Mindanao in 2000, is among the 10 awardees in this year’s search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers.
Manalang is current commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 (MBLT 8) which is fighting the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in the island province of Sulu.
The awardees were presented yesterday during a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo. Each of the awardees will receive P500,000 and a trophy on September 5 on Metrobank’s anniversary celebration.
The annual search being conducted by the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club Makati Metro is now on its 16th year.
The other awardees are Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor, T/Sgt. Danilo delos Santos, T/Sgt. Bernardo Tacbas, all from the Army; Intelligence Specialist Chief Fernando Junio Parcon, of the Navy; S/Sgt. Albert Eleazar, Marines; Lt. Col. Oliver Alina Banara, M/Sgt. Abel Idusma, and T/Sgt. Andersen Avellena, all of the Air Force; and Col. Jocelyn Turia, from the Technical and Administrative Services.
The citation for Manalang said: “With his expertise in intelligence security and combat, Lt. Col. Manalang developed strategies to help resolve conflict in Mindanao.”
“In year 2000, he led the clearing operations along the Narciso Ramos highway, a stretch from Lanao del Sur to Maguindanao know as the ground for rebel checkpoints,” the citation also read.
The operation at the Narciso Ramos Highway area led to the capture of three of the dozens of camps of the MILF during the all-out war declared by then President Joseph Estrada.
Manalang was also cited for an operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, where the BIFF and the MILF killed 44 members of the PNP-Special Action Force in January last year.
Manalang was also credited for accomplishments beyond the battlefield, including the conduct of sports clinics, feeding programs for the youth, and construction of comfort rooms and school buildings in Maguindanao and Sulu.
“He also facilitated Operation ‘Balik Ngiti’ in 2014 which helped 44 children with cleft lip and palate. These activities helped win back the trust of the people and strengthened civil-military engagements in Maguindanao and Sulu,” the citation added.
Eleazar was cited for helping save the lives of eight students of the Mindanao State University, who were held captive by rogue MILF rebels in 2004. He is currently assigned with the MBLT 6 in Sultan Kudarat.
“He also led several operations against the Abu Sayyaf, leading to the death of Khadaffy Janjalani, one of its highest leaders, in 2006,” his citation read. The Abu Sayyaf chieftain was killed in a military operation in Sulu in September 2006.
Villaflor’s citation said: “Fatherless at the age of seven, Lt. Col. Eliglen Villafor had to sell newspapers and scavenge for scrap metal as a young boy to help his mother make ends meet.”
Villaflor was credited for the improvement of facilities of the Special Forces School in Nueva Ecija while he was the school’s commandant. He is currently the chief of staff of the Special Forces Regiment.
“From a sorry state of the school at Fort Magsaysay, it has become the show window of the Philippine Army when it hosts foreign armed (forces) visitors for bilateral and multilateral exercises,” the citation also read.
During his stint as a United Nations peacekeeper, Villaflor negotiated the release of civilians abducted by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights in 2012.
Before his current post, Villaflor was commander of the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Basilan. “He led the 4th Special Forces Battalion in retaking and recovery of other encampments and firearms in operations against the Abu Sayyaf,” it added.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/10-outstanding-soldiers-named
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