2011 outstanding Philippine soldiers named

By Ogie Salvador, Thursday, June 9, 2011

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City, June 9 (PIA) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has named the awardees of the 2011 search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) at the AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse, General Headquarters recently.

The search aims to recognize members of the armed forces whose dedication to work, duty and country has been exceptional and worthy of emulation among its members.

The outstanding Philippine soldiers are Colonel Daniel A. Lucero, Master Sergeant Sixto P. Navarrosa, Chief Master Sergeant Billy C. Benebile all from the Philippine Army; Colonel Alexander F. Balutan, Technical Sergeant Rommel Carbon, Data Processor 3 Jairus M. Cenabre all from the Philippine Navy; Colonel Raul del Rosario, Master Sergeant Maria Teresa M. Bitong, Master Sergeant Nelson S. Mercado all from the Philippine Air Force, and Colonel Alexis Tamondong from the Technical Services.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo S.L. Oban Jr. attended the presentation of TOPS Awardees. “TOPS shall help uplift our soldiers’ morale in terms of showcasing their honorable service to the Filipino people and significant achievements that validates their upright commitment to protecting the best interest of the Filipino nation,” he said.

“I am encouraging all the winners to be an inspiration and good role models to the many soldiers who are like the awardees, doing exemplary performance of their vowed duties and responsibilities to the Filipino nation,” Oban added.

TOPS 2011 is an annual project undertaken by the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro, in partnership with the AFP. The Search aims to honor the career achievements of gallant officers and enlisted personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Technical Services.

The awardees received P300,000-cash prize and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation. Later this month, the awardees will be honored in the conferment ceremonies in Malacañang to be attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

The awardees were judged by their career achievements and exemplary dedication to their service and acts which are instrumental in nation building. The multi-sectoral board of judges was chaired by Associate Justice Jose Perez of the Supreme Court and included Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita “Ging” Deles, Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Atty. Andres Bautista, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon himself a former AFP chief-of-staff during the late Pres. Cory Aquino administration, Navotas City Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, De La Salle University President Br. Narciso Erguiza FSC, and TV5 COO Bobby Barreiro.

PIA

Tanbark shipment caught

By Bong Garcia, Thursday, June 9, 2011

OPERATIVES of the Philippine Navy intercepted Wednesday a shipment of a truckload of tanbark in a private pier in Zamboanga City.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief Commodore Armando Guzman said the confiscated tanbark was just unloaded from a vessel, M/L Marwiza, which docked at Wee Bin wharf in the village of Baliwasan, west of the city.

Guzman said the truck, which was about to leave the private port, was loaded with 310 sacks of tanbark.

Harvesting of tanbark has been outlawed in the Philippines because its bark when removed kills mangrove trees, said Guzman.

Mangrove trees provide irreplaceable habitat to diverse species of birds, mammals, crustacea, and fish.

Guzman added that tanbarks are commonly smuggled to Malaysia and Indonesia and are highly valued as a source of organic dye used in making batik cloth.

Sun Star Zamboanga

Marine witness in ‘Hello Garci’ honored by TOPS MARINE Col. Alexander Baluta

By Victor Reyes
Malaya, Tuesday, June 7, 2011

MARINE Col. Alexander Balutan, the officer who claimed to have witnessed the rigging of the 2004 presidential elections by allies of former President Gloria Arroyo in Lanao del Sur, was chosen one of this year’s Ten Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS).

Balutan, now commander of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Sultan Kudarat, said it is an honor for him to be recognized by the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro which sponsored the search.

In a phone interview, Balutan said he is proud to be looked up to as a role model for Filipino soldiers amid allegations of corruption in the 120,000-strong Armed Forces.

Balutan was not able to attend the initial presentation of the TOPS awardees in Camp Aguinaldo as he is supervising relief operations in Central Mindanao. The winners were announced by Metrobank Foundation chair Aniceto Sobrepeña.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1983, Balutan was credited Balutan for getting political leaders in Lanao and Marawi City to commit to a peace covenant months before the 2004 presidential elections, and for capturing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s Camp Bidal during the military’s all-out war against the secessionist group in 2000.

He was also recognized for leading six "major" operations that resulted in the death of seven MILF rebels, apprehension of 19 others and rescue of a number of kidnap victims.

In September 2005, Balutan and then 1st Marine Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani told the Senate inquiry on the controversial ‘Hello Garci’ tapes how they witnessed the rigging of the elections in Lanao del Sur. The two Marine officers defied the military leadership’s order not to appear before the Senate inquiry without explicit authority from commander-in-chief Gloria Arroyo, who herself was being implicated in the vote-rigging.

Military probers subsequently subjected Balutan and Gudani to a pre-trial investigation preparatory to possible court martial for violation of Article of War 65 (willful violation of a superior officer) and AW 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline). The cases did not reach the military tribunal for a formal trial as they prescribed after two years.

Col. Daniel Lucero, Balutan’s classmate and present commander of the Army’s 103rd Brigade in Lanao del Sur, was also chosen a TOPS awardee for his "24/7 availability to the media, along with his skillful handling, allowed him to effectively respond to the negative feedback thrown against the AFP during his assignment as spokesman."

It also noted that the 18th Infantry Battalion was given the Army’s streamer award in 2001 while Lucero was battalion commander.

Incidentally, it was Lucero’s battalion that spread a poster of wanted Abu Sayyaf terrorists in various places in Basilan. The poster erroneously included the picture of a Manila-based female journalist who frequented Mindanao to cover military activities in the region.

The eight other awardees are Col. Raul del Rosario, assistant chief of Air Staff for Intelligence, for leading a tactical air reconnaissance in the disputed Spratlys in 1997; Air Force M/Sgt. Ma. Teresa Bitong for "providing guard to the late President Corazon Aquino during the most fraught years in her presidency." She was awarded a Gold Cross Medal for serving as helicopter gunner while extricating wounded soldiers Basilan in 1993; Army engineer Col. Alexis Tamondong, Army M/Sgt. Sixto Navarrosa, Army Chief M/Sgt. Billy Benebile, Marines T/Sgt. Rommel Carbon, Navy Data Processor 3 Jairus Cenabre, and Air Force M/Sgt. Nelson Mercado.

The 10 will receive their trophies and P300,000 each on June 27 in ceremonies to be graced by President Aquino.

malaya.com.ph

AFP names TOPS awardees for 2011

by Jell E. Guzman

Philippine Information Agency, Tuesday, June 7, 2011

QUEZON CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) named the ten winners of the 2011 search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the AFP Commissioned Officers Clubhouse in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo SL Oban, Jr. led the presentation and announcement of the TOPS awardees.

The ten awardees are: Colonel Daniel A. Lucero, Master Sergeant Sixto P. Navarrosa, Chief Master Sergeant Billy C. Benebile all from the Philippine Army; Colonel Alexander F. Balutan, Technical Sergeant Rommel Carbon, Data Processor 3 Jairus M. Cenabre all from the Philippine Navy; Colonel Raul del Rosario, Master Sergeant Maria Teresa M. Bitong, Master Sergeant Nelson S. Mercado all from the Philippine Air Force, and Colonel Alexis Tamondong from the Technical Services.

Oban said the TOPS award will help uplift the morale of the soldiers in terms of showcasing their honorable service to the Filipino people, and significant achievements that validates their commitment to protecting the best interest of the nation.

“I am encouraging all the winners to be inspirations and good role models to the many soldiers who are like the awardees, doing exemplary performance of their vowed duties and responsibilities to the Filipino nation,” added Oban.

The ten awardees will receive an individual cash prize of P300,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation. While non-winning finalists will also receive P20,000 each and a certificate from the foundation.

President Benigno S. Aquino III will honor the ten awardees during the conferment ceremonies to be held in Malacañang later this month.

The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers is an annual search jointly undertaken by the Rotary Club of Makati Metro and the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the AFP.

The search aims to honor the men and women of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Forces and the Technical Services who served as models of excellence, professionalism, integrity and nobility in the military service.

This year’s board of judges was chaired by Associate Justice Jose Perez of the Supreme Court together with Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Teresita “Ging” Deles, Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Atty. Andres Bautista, former AFP chief and current Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon, Navotas City Mayor John Reynald Tiangco, De La Salle University President Br. Narciso Erguiza FSC, and TV5 chief operating officer Bobby Barreiro.

PIA