8 soldiers wounded in clashes get medals, cash assistance

By DPAO, 8ID PA
December 2, 2015

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – Eight soldiers who were wounded in separate clashes last November in Samar were awarded with wounded personnel medal and cash assistance for their bravery and selfless service under the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in a ceremony, Tuesday morning, December 1.

Two soldiers belonging to the 63rd Infantry Battalion, two soldiers from 87th Infantry Battalion and three soldiers from the 14th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army received the medal and cash assistance in a ceremony held at Camp Lukban Station Hospital, Headquarters 8ID at 8:30 a.m.

The Wounded Personnel Medals were awarded by Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino AFP, Commander 8th Infantry Division, assisted by Brig. Gen. Demy T. Tejares, the Assistant Division Commander and Col. Divino Rey C. Pabayo Jr, the Chief of Staff. They also gave cash assistance and assorted fruits to the eight wounded in action soldiers.

The two personnel of 87th Infantry Battalion namely: Cpl Jonas C Autor and Pfc Nico Basibas, were wounded in an encounter with more or less 15 New People's Army (NPA) rebels at Barangay Buluan, Calbiga Samar at around 6:00 a.m. on November 25, 2015. The encounter resulted to the death of one unidentified NPA member, seizure of an enemy encampment with 18 enemy bunkers, one multi-purpose hall and one classroom and the recovery of 200 rounds of K3 squad automatic weapon ammunition, one memory card, one binocular and other subversive documents.

The other soldiers namely: Pfc Pablito Pomarca and Pfc Eric Lazara of 63rd Infantry Battalion were wounded during an ambush perpetrated by NPAs at vicinity Barangay Washington, Catarman, Northern Samar at about 3:28 p.m., on November 24, 2015.

Four other soldiers, namely: 1lt. Cherwin B. Lapura, Pfc Rey D. Calabroso and Pfc Jack O. Macatantan of 14th Infantry Battalion were wounded during an ambush with more or less 20 NPA members at Barangay Lagundi, Catbalogan City, Samar last November 27, 2015 and Staff Sgt, Wilfredo T. Irasgaof the 20th Infantry Battalion who was wounded in enemy attack at Barangay Bonifacio, Gamay, Northern Samar while conducting peace and development operations last October 20, 2015.