PNoy awards 18 soldiers in Zambo siege

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines- - President  and Armed Forces of the Philippines Commander-in-Chief Benigno Aquino III awarded with medals 18of the 2,473 soldiers Monday at the AFP General Headquarters for successfully defending this southern port city from the siege of the  Nur Misuari faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public information officer,  said among those who were awarded were 12 officers and six enlisted personnel.

Zagala said the president personally pinned two distinguished conduct stars, three distinguished service stars, and nine gold cross medals to soldiers for their gallantry in action and acts of heroism during the MNLF siege last September that lasted for three weeks.

“This awarding ceremony is among the many set for the heroes of Zamboanga,” according Zagala, who was among those awarded with distinguished conduct star medal.

“The 2,473 soldiers who participated in the Zamboanga City Crisis either in administrative or combat capacity are all set to receive an award commensurate to their bravery in combat and valuable service rendered in the operations,” he added.

At least 24 government forces were killed and close to 200 soldiers and police were wounded while 12 civilians were killed and 72 others wounded at the height of the three-week weeks bloody standoff when more than 400 MNLF rebels took siege of this city after they failed to march to the city hall to raise their flag and declare the independence of the "Bangsamoro Republik".

The siege also displaced more than 100,000 civilians and devastated and almost wiped from the map of this city four barangays barely few hundred meters away from the city hall.