News Feature: Army Special Forces’, CAFGUs’ tale of gallantry in Basilan

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 29): News Feature: Army Special Forces’, CAFGUs’ tale of gallantry in Basilan

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The deafening sound of gunfires as these pass through soldiers flat on the ground amongst bushes and grasses  remained the only cover to escape death, have lasted for nine hours.

Flashes of images of the grueling ordeal of the army’s Special Forces and militiamen during the hours of battle on January 12, 2017 that killed an officer and wounded others have lingered in the minds of the gallant soldiers.

This prompted Capt Anthony Andrew Abay, commanding officer of the 15th Special Forces Company to have some thirty army soldiers and CAFGUs to undergo stress debriefing.

“I understand that we are all brave and fearless. But as humans, we all have our breaking points if we do not deal with the emotional and psychological trauma,” Capt. Abay said.

He added that the aim of the activity is for soldiers to be able to express themselves and release tensions, pressures, and the stress that they have experienced last Jan 12.

As he explained, one could sense that he is holding back his tears as he encouraged his men to share their stories and feelings.

“This is not a sign of weakness, but an opportunity to become a better and stronger soldier,” he said, as he began to share some of his last moments with Army Captain Clinton Capio who died on his side.

The soldiers also have their own stories to tell. In small groups, facilitators listened to every soldier’s tale, be they on the battleground or about their struggle to provide for their families.

For the whole day of January 22, the soldiers have unveiled themselves to a team of facilitators from the Nagdilaab Foundation Inc, Child Fund Philippines, Department of Education-ALS, the City Social Welfare and Development Office of Lamitan City, the Claret Samal Foundation Inc., and the Philippine Information Agency-Basilan.

Uniquely, CAFGUs have their own stories to tell. Serving the military for about fifteen days with some four thousand pesos in allowance, this could already help bring food on the tables of their families. After the 15-day duty, these militiamen will have to find other means of living, until summoned by the AFP for another duty.

CAFGUs are the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit of the armed forces who are irregular auxiliary forces of the AFP. According to Republic Act 7077, these reservists will be utilized only for the defense of their respective localities and will not be employed outside their localities.

Just like the gallantry of the soldiers of the 15th and 19th Special Forces Companies of the Philippine Army, the CAFGUs have fought side by side with the same passion to protect the civilians from terror and lawlessness, knowing that they could be killed during the nine-hour fierce battle with the Abu Sayyafs.

All were hopeful that the Jan 12 may never repeat itself. All, too, wished that peace may finally be achieved soon so that no more families would be displaced, no more children would lose their fathers, no more wives could lose their husbands, no more mothers would weep for the death of their sons, and no more nations could lose their beloved soldiers.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1421485692138/news-feature-army-special-forces-cafgus-tale-of-gallantry-in-basilan