Combat award for Navy officer who fought Maute Group

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy elite officer who led a major operation against the Maute Group in February 2016 received the second highest combat award on Wednesday, December 21, during the 81st anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). 

Lieutenant Junior Grade Reginald Balidoc, 27, of the Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG) was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Star (DCS) for leading troops in an encounter against an estimated 50 members of the local terrorist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS). 

The encounter with the Maute Group in February resulted in the successful capture of the group’s camp in Lanao del Sur. The military said the firefight that Balidoc led in Ragayan in Butig town resulted in heavy casualties on the part of the enemy.

President Rordigo Duterte led the awarding ceremony.

Balidoc’s citation reads:

For acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry in the face of an armed enemy during an encounter against more or less 50 Foreign and Local Terrorist Organization members under Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute at the Ragayan, Butig, Lanao del Sur that inflicted heavy casualties to the enemy thereby showcasing extreme stability under fire and keeping up with the finest traditions of Filipino soldiery. 

 

He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2011. 

Balidoc received the award in the presence of the living recipients of the Medal of Valor award, the highest combat award, and the dependents of the deceased awardees. 

The Medal of Valor was last awarded in 2014 to the late Private First Class Ian Pacquit. (WATCH: Soldier killed in Zambo given highest military honor) 

On Wednesday, Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Año also announced the increase in the benefits of the Medal of Valor awardees.

MEDAL OF VALOR AWARDEES
PH Army Personnel
General Paulino Santos	1935	Deceased
LTC Egmidio Cruz	1944	Deceased
MGen Mariano Castañeda	1950	Deceased
Capt Conrad Yap	1951	Deceased
MSg Francisco Camacho	1955	Deceased
Cpl Weene Martillana	1955	Deceased
Maj Ferdinand Marcos	1958	Deceased
SSg Miguel Pastolero	1964	Deceased
Cpl Bienvenido Fajemolin	1980	Alive
1Lt Hilario Estrella	1987	Alive
Sgt Francisco Granfil	1989	Alive
Pfc Robert Salvador	1990	Alive
Cpt Arturo Ortiz	1990	Alive
2Lt Bartolome Vicente Bacarro	1991	Alive
Cpl Romualdo Rubi	1991	Alive
2Lt Jose Bandong	1992	Deceased
Ssg Roy Cuenca	1992	Alive
Cpt Cirilito Sobejana	1996	Alive
Cpt Eduardo Lucero	2000	Deceased
2Lt Herbert Dilag	2000	Alive
Sgt Claudio Forrosuelo	2000	Deceased
Ssg Lucio Curig	2000	Alive
Ltc Noel Buan	2004	Alive
Ssg Leopoldo Diokno	2004	Alive
Pfc Ian Pacquit	2014	Deceased
Philippine Navy Personnel
Pfc Nestor Acero	1983	Deceased
Cpt Custodio Parcon	1991	Alive
Sgt Tomas Campo Jr	2000	Deceased
1Lt Lolinato Toong	2000	Deceased
Sgt Domingo Deluana	2000	Deceased
LTC Ariel Querubin	2001	Alive
Ssg Herminigildo Yurong	2001	Deceased
Cpl Laurence Narag	2001	Deceased
Cpl Ernesto Layaguin	2001	Deceased
Philippine Air Force Personnel
LTC Jesus Villamor	1954	Deceased
Maj Danilo Atienza	1990	Deceased
A2C Ludegario Bactol	1990	Deceased
Philippine Constabulary Personnel
TSg Desidero Suson	1981	Deceased
MSg Isaias Silvestre Jr	1985	Alive
Sgt Jacinto Moreno	1986	Alive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Rappler.com