Robert Salvador | |
---|---|
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Rank | ![]() |
Service number | 723530 |
Unit | 49th Infantry Battalion |
Battles/wars | 1989 Philippine coup attempt |
Awards | ![]() |
Robert Salvador is a retired Philippine Army officer and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. [1]
Salvador, then a Private First Class, was one of the soldiers defending Camp Aguinaldo during the 1989 Philippine coup attempt. When armored personnel carriers of the rebel Reform the Armed Forces Movement rammed the camp's gate on 3 December 1989, Salvador fired on the vehicles with a 90 mm recoilless rifle, killing several crewmen inside. One of those killed turned out to be Salvador's brother, Rogelio. [2]
Salvador had been promoted to Sergeant by the time he was conferred the Medal of Valor on March 22, 1991. [3] He was a Captain by December 2016, just before his retirement. [4]
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT F SALVADOR 723530 PA
LOGCOM, CGEA, Quezon City – 3 December 1989
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life beyond the call of duty during the failed coup attempt staged by the rebel soldiers on 3 December 1989.Upon orders by the Commanding Officer, 49th Infantry Battalion, which was then defending the AFP Logistics Command area, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SALVADOR, armed with 90 mm recoiless[ sic ] rifle, tracked down a fleeing enemy V-150 Command Tank amidst heavy enemy gunfire and directly fired at it, hitting the rear and right tire, partially disabling it. His second shot totally destroyed the rebel- driven armor. Minutes later, a second armoured tank arrived along Santolan Road. Apparently dispatched for a rescue and reinforcement mission, the landing vehicle bombarded the strong defensive position of the 49th Infantry Battalion. With this situation, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SALVADOR surreptitiously advanced towards the hostile tank and blew it thoroughly with his recoiless[ sic ] rifle. His heroic effort disorganized the hostile forces and caused them to cease their attack and withdraw. The successful defence of the Battalion at LOGCOM proved to be the most decisive defeat incurred by the rebel soldiers in their all-out effort to capture the General Headquarters. This prevented the hostile forces to penetrate the inner defense of Camp Aguinaldo and to seize the ammunition depot of LOGCOM. Such victory was attributed to the selfless heroism of this intrepid soldier.
By this display of extraordinary gallantry, PRIVATE FIRST CLASS SALVADOR distinguished himself in the field of combat in keeping with the highest tradition of Filipino soldiery." [5]
The Medal of Valor is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest military honor awarded for a conspicuous deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty that distinguishes the recipient from his comrades. It is defined in the Philippine Army Awards and Decorations reference material FC 1–0062, itself adapted from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Awards and Decorations Handbook, Second Edition published in 1997, as an award for "heroism in combat" and is foremost in the order of precedence of awards and decorations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Arturo "Boy" Tiongson Enrile was the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications from 1997 to 1998. He also served as the 24th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1994 to 1996.
From 1986 to 1987, there were six plots to overthrow Philippine President Corazon Aquino involving various members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. A significant number of the military participants in these attempts belonged to the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), while others were identified loyalists of former President Ferdinand Marcos, who had been deposed in the People Power Revolution in late February 1986.
The most serious attempted coup d'état against the government of Philippine President Corazon Aquino was staged beginning December 1, 1989, by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines belonging to the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) and soldiers loyal to former President Ferdinand Marcos. Metro Manila was shaken by this Christmas-time coup, which almost seized the Malacañang Palace. It was completely defeated by the Philippine government by December 9, 1989.
The Reform the Armed Forces Movement, also referred to by the acronym RAM, was a cabal of officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) known for several attempts to seize power in the Philippines during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1986, some of these officers launched a failed coup d'etat against Ferdinand Marcos, prompting a large number of civilians to attempt to prevent Marcos from wiping the RAM rebels out. This eventually snowballed into the 1986 People Power revolution which ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and forced him into exile. RAM later attempted six coups d'état against the administration of Corazon Aquino.
Vicente "Vic" Sumajit Santos Jr. was a colonel of the Philippine Army – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He is the author of several military books and other publications, as well as the founding president of Kapatiran ng mga Kawal na Makawikang Pilipino (KAKAMPI).
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.
Nestor F. Acero was an enlisted Marine of the Philippine Marine Corps and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. Acero was assigned as rifleman in the 7th Marine Company in Jolo, Sulu on 26–27 November 1972 when his company along with the 8th Marine Company assaulted a hill defended by approximately 500 Moro rebels. The marines encountered heavy resistance and took casualties. A withdrawal was eventually ordered from Battalion level. Acero however, was nursing a wounded comrade and elected to cover the withdrawal of the rest of his unit. He was killed in action.
Conrado Dumlao Yap was a Philippine Army officer and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. Yap was one of the 1,367 Filipino troops comprising the 10th Battalion Combat Team of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK), one of the five Philippine Army Battalion Combat Team's contingent of United Nations Command forces that fought in the Korean War (1950–1953).
Bienvenido Fajemolin is a retired Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.
Hilario A. Estrella is a retired Philippine Army officer and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.
Bartolome Vicente Orpilla Bacarro is a Philippine Army lieutenant general who serves as the 59th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He previously commanded the Southern Luzon Command. In 1991, Bacarro was awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor for his actions against the New People's Army in Maconacon, Isabela.
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.
Jose E. Bandong, Jr. was a Philippine Army officer and a posthumous recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.
Cirilito Elola Sobejana is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the 55th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte. He is also known for having been awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor in 1995 for his valiant actions in Basilan against the extremist guerrilla group Abu Sayyaf.
Herbert D. Dilag is a Philippine Army officer and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. He is a member of the Igorot people, an ethnic group that inhabits the provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines.
Claudio Forrosuelo was a Philippine Army enlisted trooper and a posthumous recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.
Tomas V. Campo, Jr. was a hospital corpsman of the Philippine Marine Corps and a posthumous recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. Sergeant Campo served with the 20th Marine Company of Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 during the 2000 Philippine campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In a military operation to capture Camp Bilal, an MILF stronghold in Munai, Lanao del Norte, Campo came to the aid of 10 Marines wounded by hostile fire, pulling them to safety and treating their wounds. As he attempted to rescue an 11th casualty, he was hit by enemy fire and killed in action.
Ariel Oliva Querubin is a retired Philippine Marine Corps officer and a recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Museum, also known as the AFP Museum is a military museum located within the premises of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Philippines.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)