TACLOBAN CITY—Private First Class Michael P Cagata of 20th Infantry Battalion in Northern Samar has received the Wounded Personnel Medal from Maj. Gen. Jet Velarmino, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division in Eastern Visayas.
Cagata was wounded in action during an ambush staged by around 30 members of the New People’s Army along Cory Aquino Highway in Barangay Anito, Gamay, Northern Samar while conducting election duty.
The medal was awarded to him at Camp Lukban Station Hospital in Catbalogan, Samar.
The Philippine Army was deputized by the Commission on Elections, together with the Philippine National Police, to ensure a peaceful and credible elections in the region.
“It is very unfortunate that our soldiers were ambushed while serving the people to attain a credible election, while protecting the Board of Election Inspectors and the Vote Counting Machines,” Velarmino said.
The election related violence has been reduced because of the immediate response of the Philippine Army, he added.