AFP to honor Dimayuga with Medal of Valor
Monday, January 22 2007 @ 04:17 PM GMT
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday said a Medal of Valor might be conferred on a Marine officer who led a fierce gun battle with Abu Sayyaf terrorists that led to the killing of the group’s chieftain, Khadaffy Janjalani.
In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said a military board is considering 1Lt. Romulo Dimayuga with the highest combat medal in the military establishment.
The Medal of Valor is conferred on officers who have displayed “heroism” in combat. It entails a number of perks, including a P20,000 monthly allowance and free education of the awardee’s children.
“It's possible, there is a board deliberating on it,” said Bacarro when asked if award that would be given to Dimayuga is the Medal for Valor. The second highest combat medal is Distinguished Conduct Star while the third is Gold Cross Medal.
Dimayuga, along with 18 other Marines, was wounded in the more than two hours of skirmishes with more or less 200 Abu Sayyaf men last Sept. 4 in the thickly forested Patikul town in Sulu. The clash also left six Marines dead.
In his hospital bed, Dimayuga has said his platoon got four meters near the terrorists before simultaneously throwing grenades before unleashing heavy volume of fire on the group of Janjalani, who had barely finished saying a morning prayer.
Military officials claimed at least 30 Abu Sayyaf terrorists died in that clash while Janjalani was initially reported as wounded, along with Jemaah Islamiyah bomber Omar Patek based on information from civilians.
On Dec. 27, four Abu Sayyaf surrenderees led Marine soldiers to a grave site in Tumatangis village in Patikul town where they supposedly buried the body of Janjalani, who they said died as a result of the Sept. 4 clash.
American experts later took tissue samples on the cadaver and compared it with those of Janjalani’s brother, Hector, who is incarcerated at a police detention facility in Metro Manila for kidnapping charges.
On Saturday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. confirmed the death of Janjalani, citing the results of the DNA test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. He said the test was “conclusive” and “complete.”
“Due recognition will be given to those who have initiated this actions against Janjalani, which eventually led to the neutralization of Janjalani,” said Bacarro, referring to Dimayuga and his unit.
“It is inherent upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines to give due recognition where recognition is due…That (type of award) would depend to the board, there is a board that would determine the merit of his actions but definitely, one thing is sure *that he would be given due recognition,” he added of Dimayuga.
After confirming Janjalani’s death last Saturday, Esperon said the officers and men involved in the operation may be given spot promotion. “We will give spot promotions where it is deserved…Where promotions are deserved, it will be given, where awards are deserved, it will be given.”
Meanwhile, Bacarro said it would be up to the US to award the million bounty for the neutralization of Janjalani. He said the military will just assist US officials in their investigation who deserves to be given the reward.
“There is process under the reward system…and this process would be a tedious process and the agency involved in this, if ever anyone qualifies, would be the US government. The Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police would collaborate and cooperate with the US government because they are the ones who will give the reward,” he said.
Meanwhile, the military is training its sight on the last three remaining senior leaders of the Abu Sayyaf *Radullan Sahiron, Isnilon Hapilon and Dr. Abu Pula. There are reports that Sahiron has taken over the leadership of Janjalani following the latter’s death.
“The instruction of CS (chief of staff) is for our soldiers to step up operations against these high value targets,” said Bacarro. Sahiron and Dr. Abu Pula are based in Sulu while Hapilon is based in Basilan.
“As we have said before, the objective of Oplan Ultimatum is to get the high value targets, meaning to say we are running after these three (Abu Sayyaf leaders) and other sub-commanders of the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
When asked if the three are the potential leaders who may replace Janjalani, he said: “We cannot say right now. They can appoint anybody but one thing is sure, as I’ve said, they are going to have a difficulty for someone with the caliber of Janjalani.”
Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, who led the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf years ago, has described Sahiron as the most senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf and who is the overall leader of the terrorist group in Sulu.
“Actually Sahiron Radullan is the overall leader in Sulu. He is also the spiritual leader of the ASG in their organization. He is the most respected man (in the ASG). If we get Sahiron, I think everything will crumble,” Tolentino said. (PNA)