Mutineer loses top soldier award

From TOPS to bottom.

Navy Electronic Technician Leonito Fermin has lost more than his honor in joining the July 27 mutiny at the posh Oakwood Premier condotel in Makati City.

He was also bumped off from the list of awardees in Metrobank’s The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS).

Fermin’s nomination for the award was withdrawn by the Naval Command when it found he was one of the 326 officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who joined the "Magdalo" group of young rogue military officers, mostly from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1995, which staged
the mutiny and engaged in a 22-hour standoff with soldiers loyal to the Constitution and President Arroyo.

Aside from the award, Fermin also forfeited a glass trophy, a caliber .45 pistol and P100,000 from Metrobank.

The Magdalo group wired Oakwood, the adjacent Glorietta shopping complex and nearby buildings in the Ayala Center of Makati City’s commercial and business district (CBD) with explosives prior to the standoff.

They surrendered after negotiations with Ambassador Roy Cimatu, retired AFP officers and other personalities from government.

The Navy informed the TOPS board of judges, which included The STAR managing editor Antonio Katigbak, of their withdrawal of Fermin’s nomination.

The TOPS awards were jointly given by Metrobank and the Rotary Club of Makati at Malacañang yesterday, in the presence of Mrs. Arroyo, commander-in-chief of the AFP.

With Fermin out of the list of TOPS awardees, only nine officers and men from the various services of the AFP were present at the award ceremonies.

This year’s TOPS awardees from the Army were Col. William Campos, of the 71st Infantry Battalion in San Jose, Nueva Ecija; M/Sgt. Paulio Bala of the 31st Infantry Battalion in Labo, Camarines Norte; and M/Sgt. Ramon Padrilanan of the AFP Civil Affairs Group in Fort Bonifacio.

Awardees from the Navy were Col. Juancho Sabban of the Marine Corps Training Center at Fort Bonifacio and MSgt. Carlos Sulit of the Marine Battalion Landing Team in Tawi-Tawi.

TOPS awardees from the Air Force were Maj. Bruce Concepcion of the Tactical Operations Group in Davao City; MSgt. Jose Maquinay Jr. of the 300th Air Intelligence and Security Group in Villamor Airbase; and SSgt. Joel Baldonado of the 18th Attack Squadron in Sangley Air Base.

Col. Adrien Quidlat, MD, of the V. Luna General Hospital AFP Medical Center in Quezon City also received a TOPS award for his nomination in the technical support category.

The President hailed this year’s TOPS awardees for restoring the prestige and honor of the men and women of the AFP for their loyalty to the Constitution and to the flag.

"I thank the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro for joining together to cite our outstanding Filipino soldiers," she said.

The Chief Executive also thanked the awardees "because you reinforce the people’s faith and confidence in our soldiers, especially after the failed Oakwood mutiny."

The President reiterated her instructions to the AFP brass led by chief of staff Gen. Narciso Abaya and the military’s major service commanders to implement her standing orders to grant privileges — such as giving priority status for housing and education benefits — "for those who exemplify excellence and valor in combat operations."

The President said that soldiers conferred medals for gallantry in action are automatically placed on the priority list for housing and educational benefits and other privileges "regardless of unit, rank or connections."

In the case of enlisted personnel who receive the TOPS award, the President said, they will also receive promotions on top of the financial reward.

The officer who earn honors from the TOPS awards, however, cannot be promoted automatically because of the law that limits the number of officers within the AFP.

"Therefore, the only way by which we can tie up something material with the honor of the medal is to give this kind of priority to them," the President said. "The greater the valor, the more the rewards."

"I salute you once again... for your loyalty to the flag," Mrs. Arroyo said, addressing the TOPS awardees.

"Now we must set aside the Oakwood syndrome and get on with the matters that require earnest vigilance, especially the ever-constant threat of terrorism," she said.