Francisco Camacho Sr.

Last updated
Francisco M. Camacho Sr.
Francisco Camacho Sr.jpg
Born(1924-10-07)7 October 1924 [1]
Virac, Albay, Philippine Islands
Died20 December 1955(1955-12-20) (aged 31)
Laguna, Philippines
AllegianceFlag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines
Service/branchFlag of the Philippine Army.svg  Philippine Army
Rank PHIL ARMY MSG WOODLAND.svg Master Sergeant
Service number 504735 [2]
Unit Scout Ranger Regimental Seal.png 1st Scout Ranger Regiment
Battles/wars Hukbalahap rebellion
Awards Philippine Medal of Valor ribbon.jpg Medal of Valor

Francisco Camacho Sr. (1924-1955) was a Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. [3]

Contents

In 1955, Camacho and fellow Scout Ranger Weene Martillana were tasked by their commander, Ernesto S. Mata to neutralize Hukbalahap commander Eddie Villapando who was operating in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. In the subsequent military operation, Camacho and Martillana succeeded in killing Villapando and his bodyguards; Camacho however died of wounds suffered during the firefight.

Operation Secret

The intelligence operation, designated "Operation Secret", was deemed very risky. Camacho and Martillana posed as civilians and befriended Villapando and his bodyguards. On 20 December 1955, Camacho, Martillana, Villapando and two Hukbalahap bodyguards were aboard a jeep traveling the highway from San Pablo City and Calauan town in Laguna with Camacho at the wheel. He pulled over in front of the gate of what is now the International Rice Research Institute in Barangay Maahas in Los Baños, Laguna at the pretense of checking on the engine.

As Camacho got off the vehicle, Martillana did the same. One asked the other, "Malamig, ano?" ("It's cold, isn't it?"). The response was, "Oo nga." ("Yes, it is."); this was their pre-arranged signal to begin the attack. They grabbed two submachine guns and opened fire, killing Villapando and one of his bodyguards. The other, though seriously wounded, managed to shoot Camacho before succumbing to his wounds. Camacho later died at a hospital.

Master Sergeant Camacho and Corporal Martillana were conferred the Medal of Valor by President Ramon Magsaysay, posthumously in Camacho's case. [4] At the time, the two Scout Rangers were the only enlisted personnel honored to receive the medal.

Medal of Valor citation

"By direction of the President, pursuant to paragraphs 2a, Section I, AFPR G 131-051, this Headquarters, dated 21 January 1954, the Medal for Valor is hereby posthumously awarded to:

Master Sergeant Francisco M Camacho 504735
Philippine Army

For distinguishing himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Master Sergeant Camacho together with Corporal Martillana, Members of 1st Scout Ranger Regiment, posed as civilians and befriended Eddie Villapando, notorious Huk Commander who terrorized Cavite and Batangas for many years. With Master Sergeant Camacho as leader, these enlisted men, after establishing contact with Villapando in September 1955, skillfully and at great risk to themselves, managed to win the confidence of Villapando and his bodyguards. On or about 2200hours, 20 December 1955, the opportunity to bring success to the project came when Villapando, Commander Gueverra, two huk bodyguards, Master Sergeant Camacho and Corporal Martillana were riding in a jeep. Master Sergeant Camacho, who was at the wheel, stopped at the vicinity of Barrio Tabon, Calauan, Laguna on the pretense that the jeep needed some oil. He got out of the vehicle to pour oil on the engine, while corporal Martillana followed presumably to help him. At a pre-arranged signal they immediately opened fire on the Huks and, with concentrated fire, they were able to kill Commander Villapando, Commander Gueverra and one Huk bodyguard. One of the Huks managed to shoot back, hitting Master Sergeant Camacho, who died soon afterwards. The extraordinary heroism and indomitable courage displayed by Master Sergeant Camacho will inevitably form a part of the glorious traditions of our Armed Forces." [2]

Personal life

Camacho was born on 7 October 1924 to Pio Camacho and Aurelia Molina in Virac, Catanduanes. He was married to Expectacion Vargas Sacris; they had three sons; Francisco Jr., Frederico and Fernando. [1] Francisco Camacho Jr. attended the Philippine Military Academy but he quit the PMA in his plebe year. He later enlisted in the Philippine Air Force and fought in battles in Jolo, Sulu against Muslim rebels in 1974. [4]

Commemoration

A marker was constructed to commemorate Camacho on the spot where he fell, however the marker was destroyed when a supermarket was constructed on the site and it was never restored. Camp Francisco Camacho, a Philippine National Police camp in Virac, Catanduanes, is named in his honor. A concrete bust of Camacho was installed at the camp in August 2015. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaminos, Laguna</span> Municipality in Calabarzon

Alaminos, officially the Municipality of Alaminos, is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 51,619 people. 

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hukbalahap</span> 1942–1954 Philippine communist guerrilla movement

The Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon, better known by the acronym Hukbalahap, was a communist guerrilla movement formed by the farmers of Central Luzon. They were originally formed to fight the Japanese, but extended their fight into a rebellion against the Philippine government, known as the Hukbalahap Rebellion, in 1946. It was put down through a series of reforms and military victories by Defense Secretary, and later President, Ramon Magsaysay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miguel Malvar</span> Filipino general

Miguel Malvar y Carpio was a Filipino general who served during the Philippine Revolution and, subsequently, during the Philippine–American War. He assumed command of the Philippine revolutionary forces during the latter, following the capture of resistance leader Emilio Aguinaldo by the Americans in 1901. According to some historians, he could have been listed as one of the presidents of the Philippines but, as of 2022, is not recognized as such by the Philippine government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyceum of the Philippines University</span> Private university located at Intramuros in the City of Manila, Philippines

Lyceum of the Philippines University also referred to by its acronym LPU is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational higher education institution located at intramuros in the City of Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1952 by Dr. José P. Laurel, who was the third president of the Republic of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Cailles</span> Filipino general and educator

Juan Kauppama Cailles was a Filipino of French-Indian descent. A member of the revolutionary movement Katipunan, he was a commanding officer of the Philippine Revolutionary Army who served during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine–American War. He later served as a provincial governor of Laguna and a representative from Mountain Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerospace Cadets of the Philippines</span>

The Aerospace Cadets of the Philippines or ACP program is a co-educational youth program oriented in aerospace technology, whose aim is to promote national enthusiasm in aviation among the youth and to train them to meet the requirements for leadership and civic service through aerospace education and military training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young's Scouts</span>

Young's Scouts was a select group of United States Army soldiers during the Philippine–American War organized under a Vermont civilian named William Henry Young.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Scout Ranger Regiment</span> Military unit

The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment, is a Philippine Army unit specializing in anti-guerrilla jungle warfare, raids, ambushes, close quarters combat, urban warfare and sabotage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangubat (surname)</span> Surname list

Mangubat (Mang-gubat) ; is a Filipino surname of Mactan Island origin which means "to wage war" in Cebuano language.

Communism in the Philippines emerged in the first half of the 20th century during the American Colonial Era of the Philippines. Communist movements originated in labor unions and peasant groups. The communist movement has had multiple periods of popularity and relevance to the national affairs of the country, most notably during the Second World War and the Martial Law Era of the Philippines. Currently the communist movement is underground and considered an insurgent movement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel S. Buan</span>

Noel S. Buan is a retired Philippine Army general officer and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage – the Medal of Valor. Buan was captured and held by the communist New People's Army in July 1999 while serving as an intelligence officer with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command. He was released after 21 months of captivity in April 2001. In 2004, while serving as commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion in Basilan, Buan orchestrated a military operation that resulted in the deaths of Abu Sayyaf leader Hamsiraji Marusi Sali and his brother Sahir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaias Silvestre Jr.</span>

Isaias V. Silvestre Jr. is a retired Philippine Constabulary enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. Silvestre was assigned as the non-Commissioned Officer-in-charge of the Calapagan Patrol Base in Lupon, Davao Oriental on 14 May 1985 when the base came under attack from approximately 170 heavily armed rebels. Silvestre and eleven other men of the 433rd Philippine Constabulary Company were wounded in the attack. Silvestre personally killed six rebels including a certain Commander Mortar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desiderio Suson</span>

Desiderio P. Suson was a Philippine Constabulary enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. Suson was assigned as the commander of a 14-man Philippine Constabulary detachment in Gamay, Northern Samar on 31 October 1980 when they came under attack from approximately 300 New People's Army rebels. Suson and all his men were wounded.

Weene Martillana was a Philippine Army enlisted trooper who was awarded the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.

Leopoldo Diokno is a retired Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.

Romualdo Rubi was a Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. Rubi was a First Lieutenant in 2015.

Roy L. Cuenca is a retired Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.

Claudio Forrosuelo was a Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a posthumous recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.

Lucio G. Curig is a retired Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.

References

  1. 1 2 "MSgt. Francisco Camacho finally honored: Medal of Valor awardee gets bust after 60 years". Catanduanes Tribune. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Award for the Medal of Valor: Master Sergeant Francisco M Camacho 504735 Philippine Army". Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Fonbuena, Carmela (20 December 2017). "FAST FACTS: List of Medal of Valor awardees and their privileges". Rappler. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "What it takes to remember Catanduanes's foremost hero". Catanduanes Tribune. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.