By Paulo Loreto Lim

During yesterday’s flag ceremony at the Iloilo City Hall, Mayor Jose Espinosa III awarded a citation and P5,000 each to Private Andrew D. Catequista of the Arevalo district, Corporal Mark Gevero of the Molo district, and Staff Sergeant Rodel Pacaña of City Proper, who all recently returned from battling Islamic-State backed Maute terrorists in Marawi City.
“This is our own little way of showing our heroes we acknowledge their help [in] making the country an indivisible republic of the Philippines,” said the mayor.
Last week, members of the Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) 31st Division Reconnaissance Company were welcomed back in a ceremony at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Jon Aying, led the ceremonies, which was also attended by other provincial officials, along with friends and families of the soldiers./WDJ