A Negrense Army officer was selected by the Metrobank
Foundation-Rotary Club Makati as among The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers
(TOPS) for 2016.
He is Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor of Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City
Villaflor has been recognized for his high-impact
non-traditional military programs and projects in Basilan, being the commander
of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, with some of them he had started, while
assigned in northern Negros , in the mid 1990s.
“A chieving peace can not be resolved by combat alone, but
through working with the communities and winning their support,” Villaflor
said.
Thousands have benefitted from his civil military operation
initiative, “From Camp to School, From Guns to Books”, where a captured Moro
Islamic Liberation Front camp in Basilan was transformed into a school campus.
Villaflor also pioneered Project Masjid where non-Muslim
entities participated in the preparation and celebration of Ramadan, with their
involvement in cleaning and beautification of mosques and peace keeping and
security efforts.
As then commander of the 32nd Special Forces Company,
Villaflor was also cited by then Rep. Alfredo Marañon Jr., now the governor of
Negros Occidental, for his contribution to local government units in northern
Negros, by pioneering the implementation of ACCORD (Army Concern on Community
Development Organizing for Development) from 1996 to 1998, mobilizing Army
trainees to teach hinterland communities to be self-reliant by using existing
resources and linking them with LGUs to address their urgent concerns for
countryside development.
In the implementation of high-impact projects in Negros , Villaflor also worked hand-in-hand with the
Diocese of Bacolod, especially with Fr. Lyndon Jong, then parish priest of EB
Magalona, and numerous non-government and people's organizations.
As commanding officer of the 4th Special Forces Battalion,
Villaflor significantly contributed to the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and
other lawless elements — with the recapture of a rebel stronghold and recovery
of other encampments and firearms, military records show.
In his two year stint as 4SFB commander, Villaflor also led the
capture of Jerry Ibon Alam, one of the prominent most wanted personalities in
Basilan, who engaged in the illegal drug trade.
The 4SFB unit also figured in armed clashes with Abu Sayyaf
bandits, killing several of them and causing injuries to numerous others,
military records further showed.
Villaflor and the other TOPS awardees were presented
yesterday by the Metrobank Foundation to acting AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen.
Glorioso Miranda during the flag raising ceremony at Camp
Aguinaldo in Quezon City
Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña said the
Search for TOPS is the civilian society's expression of genuine appreciation
and gratitude for the men and women in the Armed Forces – for their sacrifices
and dedication in pursuing our shared dreams of a safe and peaceful nation.
They are considered our modern-day heroes who showed not
only unremarkable courage and nationalism, but concern for other people and
their communities as well, Sobrepeña said.
. Each TOPS awardee will receive a cash prize of P500,000
and a trophy during the Metrobank anniversary celebration on June 5.
The search for TOPS honors the valor, gallantry, and
self-sacrifice demonstrated by the men and women of the AFP
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2016/June/21/topstory7.htm
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