• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The 606th Special Forces Company, an elite unit of the Philippine Army, marked on Sunday the 35th anniversary of Sitio Manipolon raid in Barangay Pandanon, Murcia, Negros Occidental, led by then Capt. Arturo Ortiz, a successful operation that remains unsurpassed in the history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Confronting a numerically superior group of about 200 New People’s Army rebels did not deter Ortiz and his men, including CAFGU personnel, who conducted a nighttime military operation against what was then largest training camp of NPA in Negros Island, on April 6, 1990.
Under cover of darkness, Ortiz led his troops on a grueling 11-hour march that included scaling a 1,000-foot high cliff, enabling his units to infiltrate the rebel position, coming as close as 10 meters to the NPA camp while avoiding booby traps and claymore mines.
Two hours of gunbattle on that day led to the death of 84 rebels, capture of eight others, and recovery of 33 assorted high powered guns, eight claymore mines, fragmentation grenades, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and communication equipment, while only one government trooper was slightly injured.
The feat not only highlights the effectiveness of the 606th SFC but also sets a new benchmark in the AFP’s long-standing counterinsurgency campaign against the New People’s Army, according to records of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
It added that the lessons learned and the strategies employed during the highly successful military operation continue to inform and enhance the AFP’s counterinsurgency tactics today.
Ortiz was later conferred with the Medal of Valor, the highest Philippine military honor, by then President Corazon Aquino in 1991.
“As we reflect on this significant event, it is essential to honor the bravery and dedication of those who served in the 606th SF Company and to recognize the ongoing efforts of the Philippine military in maintaining peace and security in the country,” the AFP further said.*
