DISTINGUISHING EXEMPLARY SERVICE: 53IB Troops Receive Matapat Eagle Award

Four troops of the Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (53IB) received the Matapat Eagle Award in grateful recognition of their invaluable services rendered to 53IB in connection with the unit’s 37th Founding Anniversary celebration with the theme “Matapat @ 37: Victory in Time of Convergence” at 53IB Headquarters, Camp Sabido, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur on January 28, 2022.

The awardees were:

Best Enlisted Personnel for CY 2021 – Sgt Jayson W Abara

Best Patrol Base Commander – Staff Sgt. Filnor O Butalina

Best CAFGU for CY 2021 – CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) Rey Edlog Subot

Best CAFGU Tracker for CY 2021 – CAA Joel T Danjo

In his message, 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera congratulated the said troops for the exemplary performance of their duties not just to 53IB, but to the people and the whole province of Zamboanga del Sur as a whole.

“I congratulate you for this well-deserved award. Continue to exhibit high levels of excellence, duty, and patriotism in everything you do,” said Lt. Col. Herrera.

In 2021, the Province of Zamboanga del Sur was declared an “insurgency-free and development-ready” after the dismantling of Communist Terrorist Groups wreaking chaos in the province.