CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) awarded the Campaign Battle Streamers to Army units belonging to the 4th Infantry ‘Diamond’ Division in recognition of their achievements against Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) on Monday, June 20.
The AFP Chief of Staff, General Andres Centino presided over the awarding ceremony held at the 4ID headquarters in Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.
The awardees were the 402nd Infantry ‘Stingers’ Brigade, 58th Infantry ‘Dimalulupig’ Battalion, 403rd Infantry ‘Peacemaker’ Brigade, and 1st Special Forces ‘Hunter Killer’ Battalion for dismantling two NPA units in their areas of operation.
Present in the ceremony was 4ID Commander, Major General Wilbur Mamawag who expressed the Division’s gratitude to the AFP Chief of Staff for his continuous support to the Diamond Troopers’ efforts.
In his message, the AFP Chief of Staff said the 4ID is among the leading units of the Philippine Army in terms of internal security operations. He highlighted its members’ focus and discipline which helped their respective units in gaining significant victories against the CNTs.
“I would like to thank our troops for their cooperation, dedication to duty and discipline. Because of this, our enemies are now struggling to gain support from their mass base,” he said.
He also attributed the Division’s accomplishments to the citizens’ cooperation in the military’s efforts to hunt down the remaining CNTs in the area.
“It is now easy for us to do our job because we already have the support, respect, and the trust of the people in the area where we are working,” he said.
The AFP Chief of Staff likewise took the opportunity to thank the men and women of 4ID for performing well in the National and Local Elections last May.
He cited his optimism that the incoming administration will continue to support the AFP’s programs to achieve its goal of becoming a more credible and capable military organization.
“Our modernization program and improvement of our facilities will continue. We can only look forward and be optimistic that we will be able to sustain what we have initially succeeded,” he said.///(Photos by A2C Ted Castro PAF/PAOAFP)
