Noy: This newbie team leader did well in combat

MANILA, Philippines - Was President Aquino referring to an officer of the police Special Action Force (SAF)?

The President was all praises yesterday for a second lieutenant of the Philippine Army who repelled about 30 communist rebels in Mindanao last month.

Aquino commended 2Lt. Jerson Sanchez – a 2014 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy’s Siklabdiwa Class – on whom he conferred the Distinguished Conduct Star for the feat in Sarangani.

“I stress this: Sanchez is a relatively new soldier and he is not yet a member of an elite unit. Being a newbie in the service, Sanchez was able to prove himself against veterans in the field, showing compassion, courage and effective leadership in combat,” Aquino said.

Some observers thought the President was referring to the leader of the SAF operation, Director Getulio Napeñas, who resigned as SAF commander after 44 police commandos were killed by Muslim rebels in the Jan. 25 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Sanchez and his men from the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion were responsible for the killing of a top New People’s Army (NPA) commander in Sarangani and Davao del Sur on Feb. 15.

Lt. Col. Felix Ronnie Babac, Army 73rd Infantry Battalion commander, said NPA commander Tolentino Bariquit, alias Ka Brigol, was among the rebels killed in a clash in Sitio Tugal, Barangay Datal Anggas in Alabel town, Sarangani. 

Aquino said the amazing thing is that Sanchez and his men were outnumbered, but due to good strategy and superior arms, the rebels retreated and dispersed. – With Jess Diaz, Artemio Dumlao