3 soldiers among Metrobank’s 10 outstanding Pinoys

For their respective roles in the government’s continued anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaign in Mindanao, an enlisted Army personnel and two middlegrade officers were selected by the Metrobank Foundation as among this year’s 10 outstanding Filipinos.

The awardees, who were also named as this year’s The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS), were S/ Sgt Narding Pascual, squad leader of the Bravo Company at the 26th Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division based in Agusan del Sur; Lt. Col. Elmer Suderio, assistant chief of staff for operations, G3, of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur and concurrent operations officer of Joint Task Force Marawi; and Lt. Col. Ricky Bunayog, assistant chief of staff for operations of the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao.

Aside from being a hardened fighter, Pascual has been hailed by his fellow lumads as “Caraga’s Lumad Hero” for spearheading a number of successful operations against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) that brought peace and order in the Banwaon communities located in NPA-infested town of San Luis in Agusan del Sur.

Among the tasks that he was able to accomplish were various community development efforts for the benefit of his fellow tribesmen, including the construction of a primary school, electrification, livelihood and reforestation projects and securing a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title that benefited 5,000 lumads in seven villages of San Luis.

Meanwhile, Suderio has been tagged by the civilians in Basilan’s Soldier-Trailblazer for leading a series of heavy encounters with the Abu Sayyaf Group as commander of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion.

An officer who places his men and civilians first, Suderio was initially adjudged as Best Scout Ranger company commander for transforming more than 100 Scout Ranger reject soldiers into disciplined and cohesive fighters who have inflicted major damage on the Abu Sayyaf structure in the province.

Bunayog is known as “Central Mindanao’s Warrior-Peacekeeper” who, however, actively fights the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter rebels. He is also involved in non-combat activities in pursuit of socioeconomic gains in rural communities that benefitted Muslim communities in Central Mindanao.

With his firearms at his side, Bunayog also initiates various peace moves that have resulted in the resolution of long-standing blood feuds or rido in Maguindanao.

The three soldiers joined seven other outstanding Filipinos handpicked by the Metrobank Foundation for this year’s roster.

Each awardee will receive P1 million in cash incentives, a gold medallion and a trophy from the foundation in a ceremony scheduled next week.