HERO TROOPER. Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, pins a Wounded Personnel Medal Friday (July 24, 2020) to a military who was wounded in a clash on July 21, 2010 against 20 communist terrorists New People's Army in Barangay Sto. Niño, Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte. The militiaman is undergoing medical treatment at Camp Sang-an Station Hospital. (Photo courtesy of the 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office)
ZAMBOANGA CITY--The 1st Infantry Division (1ID) has awarded a "wounded personnel" medal to a militiaman for gallantry in action during a firefight early this week with the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Zamboanga del Norte.
Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, 1ID commander, pinned the medal on the injured militiaman during a visit Friday at Camp Sang-an Station Hospital in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
Ponio did not disclose the identity of the injured militiaman for security reasons but said the wounded serviceman belong to the indigenous people (IP) assigned with the 12th Zamboanga del Norte Civilian Active Auxiliary Company.
He was injured in a 10-minute clash against 20 members of the NPA on Tuesday in Barangay Sto. Niño, Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte.
During his visit, Ponio also handed over cash assistance and food packs to the injured militiaman, whom he described as a “hero trooper”.
The clash ensued while the troops were on a combat operation following a civilian tip-off on the presence of NPA combatants in Barangay Sto. Niño.
Government troops recovered binocular, medical paraphernalia, propaganda materials, and other belongings of the NPA fighters following the clash. (PNA)
