Capitol honors 78th IB soldier

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government yesterday honored Staff Sgt. Fidel Delara for being awarded as one of the Outstanding Philippine Soldiers of 2009.

Delara, a member of the 78th Infantry Battalion based in Sogod, Cebu, was commended for his bravery and heroism for serving the country for more than 40 years.

“I did not expect to be recognized by the Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia”, Delara said.

He added that “raining of bullets” is not the answer to insurgency but a massive information campaign.

In Mindanao, where he was previously assigned, he said it was “all about the battle of bullets but here in Cebu its different, it’s about battle of mind.”

He also thanked Garcia and the local government units for their continued support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Garcia said that Delara best epitomizes the courage and bravery of the women and men of the AFP. She assured that the military can count on her continued support.

Delara was among the 10 soldiers who were chosen by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro as the winners of 2009 Search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS).

Each of the 10 awardees received a plaque and a cash prize of P250,000, courtesy of Metrobank Foundation at the Malacañang Palace last March 26 that was awarded by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)