Army honors ‘cannoners’ in fight vs BIFF

FILE: Philippine Army troopers (Photo by Philippine Army, Facebook )

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, July 31 (PNA)—  The Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division on Monday awarded bronze cross medals to two brave soldiers, one of them a woman, for their fight against Islamic militants in Maguindanao.

The awardees were Privates Kayce Abuan and Jonirick Sultan, both members of the Army’s 6th Field Artillery Battalion (6FAB), and have been promoted one rank higher.

They were actively involved in the artillery and ground offensives against outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Major Rosa Ma. Cristina Rosete-Manuel, executive officer of 6th Field Artillery Battalion, Lt. Col. Edgar Delos Reyes, a senior staff of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, pinned the awards to the soldiers.

During the operation where Abuan and Sultan took turns in feeding artillery to launchers, the Army neutralized 19 BIFF members responsible in the series of harassments against government forces in Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak and Datu Salibo towns, all in Maguindanao.

Manuel said three other artillery personnel, Privates Ronelo Zarsuelo, Jess Mar Diasnes and Regio Nhel Allado, were promoted one rank higher.

All of them belonged to a team manning and operating 105 howitzer cannons. (PNA)