BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana was honored by the local government of Zamboaguita in Negros Oriental for bringing honor to his hometown as he went on a series of visits to the different Army units in Regions 6 and 7 on August 26 and 27.
Sobejana received the highest commendation for bringing honor and prestige through his exemplary achievement and service to the nation in the field of soldiery by Zamboanguita Municipal Mayor Glenson Alanano on August 26.
A native of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, Sobejana was acknowledged by his townmates for his achievements as he commanded different units of the Philippine Army.
He was particularly cited for his leadership of the 1st Scout Ranger Company and the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, where he got his Medal of Valor for his act of gallantry in action in Isabela, Basilan, in 1995 while engaging in a fierce gunbattle with 150 members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.
Sobejana sustained five gunshot wounds and his right forearm was shattered by bullets but survived after two years of recuperation.
Before his assignment in Basilan, Sobejana had been assigned with the 11th Infantry Battalion in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.
Sobejana also visited the AFP Central Command headed by Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, a fellow Negrense and a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1987. He attended the 53rd Engineering Brigade founding anniversary held at Camp Lapulapu in Cebu City.
He commended the 53rd Engineering Brigade for a year of accomplishments in providing engineering support and contributing to the government’s socio-economic development programs all over Visayas.
“We shall continue to be the hope of our people. We shall capacitate our forces to find, fix, and finish the enemy; exploit gains; and sustain good governance. We will exemplify honor, patriotism, and duty,” Sobejana said in a statement released by the Philippine Army Public Information Office.
On. August 27, Sobejana also went to the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters in Jamindan, Capiz, where he was welcomed and accorded traditional military arrival honors by his classmate, Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, who is the 3ID commander.
In his talk to the 3ID troops, Sobejana called on Army soldiers to work together against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We should walk together so that we can cover a further distance, so that we will be able to win over all obstacles. By working together, we will win together,” he said.*
