By Jennifer P. Rendon
Excellence and dedication to service earned five soldiers recognition when the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division celebrated its 48th Founding Anniversary.
The awarding rites were one of the highlights of the virtual thanksgiving ceremony.
Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander, spoke before the troops in recognizing the outstanding soldiers.
The awardees include:
* Captain Abdulnasser Israel of 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) – Best Combat Company Commander;
* 2Lt Levin Hayes Legaspi of the 15th IB – Best Combat Platoon Leader of the Year;
* 2nd Lieutenant Philip Marciales of the 62nd IB – Best Combat Platoon Sergeant of the Year;
* Sergeant Marco Gardon of the 47th IB – Best Combat Squad Leader of the Year; and
* Master Sergeant Marcos Castro of the 7RCDG – Best EP Reservist of the Year.
Meanwhile, the 3rd ID leadership also cited Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) Jay-Ar Tillo of 94th IB as Best CAA of the Year and Emmanuel Dandoy of OG1 as the Best Civilian Human Resource of the Year.
All battalions and brigades also received a Streamer award from Arevalo for “the units’ persistent efforts and dedication in serving and securing the areas of Western and Central Visayas.”
For 48 years, Arevalo said that the 3rd ID did not want its desire to serve and secure the peace-loving people of Western and Central Visayas to wane.
While simple, this year’s thanksgiving celebration is still meaningful to all Spearhead Troopers and Civilian Human Resources, Arevalo said.
He congratulated the awardees for their exemplary performance and dedication to duty, as he also looked forward that other personnel will also be inspired and motivated to do their best.
“We will still continue to secure and uphold peace in areas of Western and Central Visayas. All units, battalions, and brigades are actually working as one. We are all 3ID, and we are the best Team 3ID,” he said citing that “without the contribution of all units our campaign to End Local Communist Armed Conflict will not be successful.”
Arevalo also led the inauguration of the 3ID’s newly constructed POL (petroleum, oil, and lubricants) Dump. The project started on Jan. 19, 2021 and was completed on Aug. 15, 2021.
The 3rd ID commander also handed nine units of motorcycles to Colonel Emelito Thaddeus Logan, the 3rd Division CAA Affairs Unit commander.
The procurement of motorcycles for the Community Defense Unit (CDU) was made possible through a closure agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Bongcayao Brigade – Tabara Paduano Group.
The Spearhead troopers also remembered the heroic deeds of comrade-in-arms who selflessly sacrificed their lives during the wreath-laying ceremony.
