Harvest of medals for Army shooters

Philippine Army shooters brought home a total of nine gold, 21 silver and 11 bronze medals after competing in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Armies Rifle Meet in Hay Tay province in Vietnam last week.

The Philippine team ranked second to Indonesia in the overall team standings.

Capt. Harold Cabunoc, coach of the pistol category, identified the gold medallists as Sgt. Jennifer de Guzman (Individual Overall Champion, Perpetual Trophy; Individual Champion, Pistol Match 1; Individual Champion, Pistol Match 2); Pvt. Rodney Rizano (Individual Champion, rifle category); SSg. Alvin Anselmo Tawagon, Sgt. Lloyd Lusad, Cpl. Alan Lao (Champion Rifle Match 5, team category).

The Philippine Army team also won the championship in the rifle falling plates match, team category.

The silver medallists were Sgt. Deomedes De Guzman (Individual, Pistol Match 1); SSg Clarence Pukya, Cpl. Mar Udan, Cpl. Willard Carrera (Pistol Match 4, team); SSg. Clarence Pukya, De Guzman, Udan, Carrera, Pfc. Jay Amita (Pistol Match 5, team category); Sgt. Jennifer de Belen, Sgt. Josephine Dumlao, Sgt. Khan Hassan, Cpl. Charity Cayaban, Pfc. Arlide Monarca (Pistol Match 4, team category); SSg. Richard Tangalin and Sgt. Michael Venerable (Machine Gun Match 1).

The bronze medallists were SSg. Norman Nabanalan, SSg. Dominador Ao-wat, Cpl. Efren Osngal and Pfc. Joey Alejo (Carbine Match 4, team category); Carrera (Pistol Match 3, individual); De Belen, Dumlao, Hassan, Monarca (Pistol Match 3, team), Tangalin, Venerable; Nabanalan, Ao-wat, Osngal, and Alejo (Carbine Match 4, team).

The ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet is an annual shooting competition among Army personnel of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The first AARM was held in Camp Terendak, Malacca, Malaysia in 1991.

The countries that participated in competition were Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Philippines hosted the AARM at Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City in 1995 and in 2001.

During the 15th AARM, which was held in Brunei, the Philippines bagged the most number of gold medals and championship trophies and emerged as the overall leader.

This year, Philippine Army personnel composed the country’s AARM shooting contingent.