MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxing sensation Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao was among the top awardees during the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) 73rd anniversary celebration on Monday, and drew louder applause than regular military officers who have made outstanding achievements in combat.
Pacquiao - a reserve Army soldier with a rank of master sergeant - was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor Award in the degree of an officer for his “exceptionally meritorious act of commendable merit and unparalleled achievement in the field of sports, particularly in boxing."
The award was conferred by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pacquiao received his medal clad in general officer's attire.
The citation noted that Pacquiao, who recently won a highly-publicized match with boxing's Golden Boy Oscar dela Hoya, is the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win four world titles in different weight divisions and “considered the best fighter in the world in his time."
As soon as Pacquiao’s name was called out, the crowd gave him an applause that even drowned out cheers given to Gold Cross Medal awardees 2Lt. Kenneth Gutleng and Sgt. Ricky Villar, who were cited for their bravery in combat.
Gutleng - who was posthumously given the award - was a member of the 61st Reconnaissance Company who led an operation against rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in the outskirts of Datu Piang in Maguindano that resulted in the recovery of wounded personnel of the 54th Infantry Battalion last September. Gutleng perished in the operation.
On the other hand, Villar - a member of the Marines’ Force Recon Battalion - was among those involved in the amphibious raid of a lair in Tawi-Tawi, whose occupant included Jema'ah Islamiyah leader Dulmatin last January. An Abu Sayyaf sub-leader died in the raid.
It was in the same encounter where Dulmatin supposedly died. Tissue samples from a recovered body is being compared to the relatives of Dulmatin to determine if the body indeed belonged to the JI leader although initial result of the tests indicated it was inconclusive.
The other awardees included Brig. Gen. Romeo Gomez who was conferred with the Distinguished Service Star for leading the neutralization of five guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army in Central Luzon while the commander of the Army’s 703rd Brigade.
Also conferred with the Philippine of Legion of Honor were AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna (first bronze anahaw leaf) and AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang (degree of commander).
Luna was cited for leading the AFP Joint Force Mindanao that is overseeing the ongoing operations against the rogue MILF rebels. On the other hand, Maclang was cited for his feats as commander of the Northern Luzon Command against communist insurgents.
Also awarded with Philippine Legion of Honor (first anahaw leaf) was Don Emilio Yap for being a “generous donor and consistent supporter" of the AFP’s Educational Benefit System since 2005. To date, he has donated P6 million, benefiting over 3,162 scholars, mostly children of deceased and disabled soldiers.
Monday’s anniversary celebration at the AFP grandstand featured a glamorous parade of troops, battle tanks and military engineering equipment and flyby of varied aircraft, including the S-211 trainer jets that had been converted as fighter planes. - GMANews.TV
Pacquiao - a reserve Army soldier with a rank of master sergeant - was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor Award in the degree of an officer for his “exceptionally meritorious act of commendable merit and unparalleled achievement in the field of sports, particularly in boxing."
The award was conferred by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pacquiao received his medal clad in general officer's attire.
The citation noted that Pacquiao, who recently won a highly-publicized match with boxing's Golden Boy Oscar dela Hoya, is the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win four world titles in different weight divisions and “considered the best fighter in the world in his time."
As soon as Pacquiao’s name was called out, the crowd gave him an applause that even drowned out cheers given to Gold Cross Medal awardees 2Lt. Kenneth Gutleng and Sgt. Ricky Villar, who were cited for their bravery in combat.
Gutleng - who was posthumously given the award - was a member of the 61st Reconnaissance Company who led an operation against rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels in the outskirts of Datu Piang in Maguindano that resulted in the recovery of wounded personnel of the 54th Infantry Battalion last September. Gutleng perished in the operation.
On the other hand, Villar - a member of the Marines’ Force Recon Battalion - was among those involved in the amphibious raid of a lair in Tawi-Tawi, whose occupant included Jema'ah Islamiyah leader Dulmatin last January. An Abu Sayyaf sub-leader died in the raid.
It was in the same encounter where Dulmatin supposedly died. Tissue samples from a recovered body is being compared to the relatives of Dulmatin to determine if the body indeed belonged to the JI leader although initial result of the tests indicated it was inconclusive.
The other awardees included Brig. Gen. Romeo Gomez who was conferred with the Distinguished Service Star for leading the neutralization of five guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army in Central Luzon while the commander of the Army’s 703rd Brigade.
Also conferred with the Philippine of Legion of Honor were AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna (first bronze anahaw leaf) and AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang (degree of commander).
Luna was cited for leading the AFP Joint Force Mindanao that is overseeing the ongoing operations against the rogue MILF rebels. On the other hand, Maclang was cited for his feats as commander of the Northern Luzon Command against communist insurgents.
Also awarded with Philippine Legion of Honor (first anahaw leaf) was Don Emilio Yap for being a “generous donor and consistent supporter" of the AFP’s Educational Benefit System since 2005. To date, he has donated P6 million, benefiting over 3,162 scholars, mostly children of deceased and disabled soldiers.
Monday’s anniversary celebration at the AFP grandstand featured a glamorous parade of troops, battle tanks and military engineering equipment and flyby of varied aircraft, including the S-211 trainer jets that had been converted as fighter planes. - GMANews.TV
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