ZAMBOANGA CITY – The 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division (ID), the premier command of the Philippine Army, recognized on Monday three junior officers and one enlisted man for excellence in the performance of duty.
The awardees are Second Lieutenant Mary Jean Casin, Staff Sergeant Richel Gacang, First Lieutenant Jose Mari Temeña, and First Lieutenant Rogene Urmenta.
The 1ID said in a statement Monday that Casin and Gacang received the Silver Cross Medal as they were instrumental in the voluntary turnover of 21 assorted firearms consisting of 16 high-powered firearms and five caliber .38 pistol at 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) headquarters.
“The Silver Cross Medal is a non-combatant award and is conferred to merit heroism in the conduct of intelligence operations not involving armed confrontations with the enemy,” the 1ID said.
The two other officers, Temeña and Urmenta, were presented with the command plaque after achieving the highest academic ranking in their military schooling.
Temeña and Urmenta, both graduated No. 1 in the class of the Infantry Officer Advance Course and Basic Officer Leader Course, respectively.
Col. Jose Randolf Sino Cruz, the acting 1ID commander, led the awarding ceremony held after the flag ceremony at Camp Maj. Cesar Sang-an, home of the 1ID in Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur. (PNA)
