6ID chief honors 7 wounded personnel in fight vs. BIFF

From the Philippine News Agency (May 5. 2021): 6ID chief honors 7 wounded personnel in fight vs. BIFF (By Edwin Fernandez)

WOUNDED HEROES. Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, pins a medal to an injured infantryman inside the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) Camp Siongco Hospital in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Wednesday (May 5, 2021). Six other soldiers belonging to various field units of the 6ID were given medals for their fight against the local terror group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters operating in Central Mindanao. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division honored Wednesday the personnel wounded in the campaign against lawless elements in the province.

Major General Juvymax Uy, 6th ID chief and commander of Joint Task Force Central, awarded medals of heroism to seven members of 14th Mechanized Company, 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, and the 25th Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit-Active Auxiliary Company.

The soldiers were wounded in action following a series of explosions of anti-personnel mines while conducting security operations in Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, and Barangay Labu-Labu, Datu Hoffer, all of Maguindanao.

“Your bravery and heroism in performing your respective duties against the enemy of the state are hereby recognized,” Uy told the wounded personnel as he pinned the wounded personnel medals to them.

Uy said the wounded personnel are recovering fast and will soon be redeployed to their respective units.

They have been pursuing three factions of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.

“Actually, the BIFF strength is diminishing,” Lt. Colonel John Paul Baldomar, speaking for the 6ID, said.

Baldomar said from the strength of 300 BIFF combatants over the last two years, the group currently has some 50 fighters left operating in the peripheries of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato provinces.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1139160