Maj. Gen. Arturo B. Ortiz, new Philippine Army chief, is a Medal of Valor awardee
By Ben Cal
MANILA, July 24 (PNA Feature) -– Outnumbered, but not outfought.
This
is the description that fits well with Maj. Gen. Arturo B. Ortiz, the
newly-installed commanding general of the Philippine Army, who was
awarded the Medal of Valor, the highest military award, for leading a
handful of his men in a fierce gun battle during a raid on a rebel
stronghold manned by 300 New People’s Army (NPA) fighters in Murcia,
Negros Occidental on April 6, 1990.
Unmindful
of his safety, Ortiz, then a captain, led the assault that left 84 NPA
rebels killed (body count), eight others captured when the soldiers
overran the NPA lair. During the raid, the soldiers also seized cache of
weapons and ammunition that vastly reduced the NPA strength in Negros
Occidental.
At
that time, Ortiz was the commanding officer of the 606th Special Forces
of the Philippine Army. He had five teams with him and reinforced by
members of the Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU)
With
his display of exceptional courage and high degree of leadership in the
midst of grave danger, Ortiz rallied his men to fight that resulted in
the capture of the NPA stronghold.
For
gallantry in combat beyond the call of duty, Ortiz was awarded the
Medal of Valor by then President Corazon C. Aquino, mother of incumbent
President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III, in 1990.
Ortiz
is also a recipient of four Distinguished Service Stars, three Gold
Cross Medals, four Bronze Cross Medals, four Military Merit Medals for
Combat, at least 17 Military Merit Medals for Administration, Military
Commendation Medals, Letters of Commendation and Appreciation, and
various Campaign medals and ribbons.
He
was also bestowed the most coveted Cavalier Award for Outstanding
Performance as Military Professional in Army Operations in 1991 and an
Alumni Achievement Award in 1996, both from the Philippine Military
Academy Alumni Association Inc.
Ortiz
assumed on Friday as the 53rd Philippine Army chief. He replaced Lt.
Gen. Reynaldo B. Mapagu, who was named as vice chief of staff of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Before
he was named as Army chief, Ortiz was the commander of the Special
Operations Command (SOCOM). He is a member of the Philippine Military
Academy Class of 1979.
His
previous positions include: Commander, Special Forces Regiment
(Airborne), Philippine Army from January 2006 to November 2008; Deputy
Commander, SFRA, Philippine Army from October 2005 to January 2006;
Chief, AFP Command Center from September 2003 to June 2005; Head,
Tactics Group and Commandant of Cadets, Philippine Military Academy,
from August 2002 to August 2003; Commanding Officer, Security and Escort
Battalion, Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group, Philippine Army
from April 2001 to August 2002; Head, Military Operations Department,
Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army from January 2001 to
April 2001; Battalion Commander of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion
(3SFBn), SFR(A), SOCOM, Philippine Army from July 1993 to March 1996;
Company Commander, 606th Special Forces Company from February 1987 to
May 1991 and Team Leader of the 1st and 10th Special Forces Company from
1979 to 1985.
His
stint with the Special Forces units brought him to major military
campaigns against different rebel groups in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao,
and Sulu Islands where he consistently distinguished himself as an
exceptional commander.
Ortiz
and his wife, Cynthia, are blessed with seven children – Alberto,
Armando, Arturo II, Angelo, Alejandro, Adriano and Antonio. (PNA
Feature)
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