Thursday, June 8, 2017

Army officer uses men as bait to locate Muslims' snipers

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

“Son of a gun, so the PC had the likes of  Colonel Amado Espino while the other branches of service had their heroes. Were you familiar with Army’s hero Julius Javier (PMA '70) and legendary artillery man Army General Rodolfo Canieso (PMA '56).?" I posed to Congressman Pol Bataoil.
 Si Julius Javier may movie pa titled the Scout Ranger!” I enthused.
 Bataoil, a former police two-star general, emphatically told me the feats of Javier, an Ilonggo like me.
Image result for scout ranger sniper
Filipino elite soldiers Scout Ranger
“Even as company commander he joined patrol and engaged the Muslim rebels in Mindanao in a fire fight. There was an incident where Moro snipers were hiding on the trees in the forest and they were pinning down his troop”
Bataoil recalled how Javier ordered one of his men to run as bait for the sniper.
“Ninerbiyos ang sundalo but he had to comply while running as the sniper tried to pin him down. Javier watched where the shot came from then Javier fired at the location of the sniper”.
Sometimes the sniper, the solon explained, could not be hit and he had to order another soldier to run as bait.
“One of the soldiers dreaded that he would die would not comply with the order. An angry Javier then asked him to watch and fire where the shot came from as he would use himself as the running target.
After he ran, he shouted at the nervous soldier if he hit the shooter from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
“Hinde po sir,!” the soldier shouted back.
Javier asked the soldier to run as bait. The soldier hesitated.
“Javier shouted pag di ka tumakbo, ako ang babaril sa iyo!”
The former two- star police general said the poor soldier complied as Javier trained his Armalite rifle to the whereabouts of the Moro’s marksman.
“Sir, may mga tall tales about Canieso, an ilonggo and kanyonero, I heard among non-officers when I visited Awang Dinaig , Maguindanao Air Force base where my father was assigned in the late 1970s,” I said.


“Totoo ba sir na iyong mga (Army) draftee, still wet behind their ears, sa Liguasan Marsh kinankanyon ni Canieso sa likuran nila kasi tatakbo sila from the MNLF who were armed with Belgium made FAL or Fusil Automatique Léger assault rifles given by Libya president Muammar Gaddafi? At ang sabi pa ni Canieso to his worried commanders dahil andaming patay sa Army na huwag ma-mrublema kasi marami pang Ilocano sa Luzon na puwedeng hakutin sa eroplano para ilaban sa Moro?
Batoil told me his version: 
He said that battle ensued in Jolo. President Ferdinand Marcos called probably via radio Canieso and asked why a lot of casualties on the side of the government.
“He told the president that the huge death happened too at the side of the rebels. Normal lang daw sa giyera iyong casualties. He said: “Mr. President do not worry about the casualties on our side. We can still bring a lot of Ilocanos from Luzon to fight the rebels to the end” the solon stressed.
“Kinabukasan relieved na si General Canieso in his post,” Bataoil amusedly told me.
“Lenti iho de puta gid!” I mumbled in our vernacular
When Cory Aquino became president after Marcos was toppled in 1986, Aquino appointed Canieso as the 28th Commanding General of the Army of the New Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Face Book's posts of Philippine Army's hero retired General Julius Javier to me and my brother Gabriel Ortigoza, an Airborne and former Military Professor at the Philippine Military Academy - the place where we were born. You can read the article of these FB's exchanges at Shocked mailman, wife invited to presidential dinner

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At 3:30 pm of October 26, 2016, while waiting at the gate of the Sual Wharf for my identification card as my clearance for the Presidential Security Group to enter and cover the Philippine’s president, I saw military top brass like those in the Navy and Marines and police generals with ranks up to three stars waiting there too for President Duterte.
When Regional Director Greg Pimentel (PMA Class ’85) , who was in a huddle with two colonels, clad in camouflage uniform from the army special forces and navy, he called me and told the duo I lived in PMA before.
“What class po kayo?” I posed to the young officers and gentlemen whose names were Navy Captain (Colonel) Erick Kagaoan and Army Colonel Batle.
“I’m 1987,” Kagaoan smiled.’

“Oh, mag ko-commodore (one star general) na ito, sir,” I told General Pimentel.
Kagaonan, commander of the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, told me he was waiting for his star anytime this year. He said he is the president of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAAA).
“Ako ang president ng Triple A this year,” he told Batle.
He said as part of the social activity of the Triple A he and staff visited Muntinlupa to see how four prisoners who are members of the PMAAA have been doing there. Two of them were Army General Carlos Garcia and Police Colonel Dionesio Borromeo who is actively doing his pastor calling.
The amiable Batle, told me he was Class 1988.
I told them something that could make them reminisce (including the PMAyers probably from Class 1980 to present who read this blog/column) PMA.
 “Don’t you know that Susan or Sunzu the supervisor of the waiters and waitresses of the bachoyan (a noodle soup made with pork organs and others) of retired Colonel Orlindo C Caingcoy located at the bowling  has a son who joined the PMA?”
PMAyers at the wharf including those air force pilots eavesdropped at our conversation.
Kagaoan said that Colonel Caingoy, an ilonggo from Iloilo and former PMA professor, has a son in law who is a commodore in the Navy.
“Son in law ni Colonel Caingcoy si Commodore Sam Felix”
“Oo, nakikita ko sila pag nagsisimba ako doon sa protestant church when I go to PMA,” I told them.


(You can read my selected columns at
mortzortigoza.blogspot.com and articles at Pangasinan News Aro. You can send comments too at totomortz@yahoo.com)

12 comments:

  1. Einrev Gold Effective yun' mas magandang malagasan Isa kaysa maubos
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    Buyuccan Ghin-namay
    Buyuccan Ghin-namay Grabe naman yong wala ng pagpipilian parehas na babarilin di takbo na lang ng may saysay kaysa di ka tatakbo na mababaril ka rin nman, kakaiyak nman magbasa sa mga kwento ng mga sundalo..
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    Mekeni Abe
    Mekeni Abe There is always another way..
    LikeShow more reactions · Reply · 23 mins
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    Anderson D Tuguinay
    Anderson D Tuguinay stories and myths about then CPT JAVIER and COL CAÑIESO are all true and correct!!!! incidentally both officers are "Ilonggo(Hiligaynon) speakers.

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  2. Ycah Crizamella Gervacio Parang sa movie lng

    Mariano Taguiam i heard about Gen Canieso from Sgt Hilario Sibbaluca Scout Ranger Regiment Army. The Gen drop the artillery shell at the back of the Infantry so soldiers will move forward for the assault. The statement marami pang Ilocano sa Luzon para isabak dto sa Mindanao are reasons he would tell when govt forces inflict high casualty from the enemy...


    German Lising Sabi nga daw ni Gen Canieso.. an Ilongo Battalion Comdr of 32nd IB, IID, PA then a Lt Colonel during the height of Moro (MNLF) rebellion in the 70's .. marami pa Ilocano sa Luzon .. hindi daw nya napagaralan yung withdrawal .. kaya pag may umaatras na tropa papatakan nya ng mortar para mag advance.. 1978 during our ROTC Summer Camp Training at Ft Magsaysay, Palayan City sabay namin sila re training .. . skeleton Battalion ang 32nd dami nila casualty meron survivor karamihan may war shock.. . heroes welcome sila ng bumalik sa Luzon.
    Michael Wittmann Well that is actually standard practice world wide

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  3. German Lising Sabi nga daw ni Gen Canieso.. an Ilongo Battalion Comdr of 32nd IB, IID, PA then a Lt Colonel during the height of Moro (MNLF) rebellion in the 70's .. marami pa Ilocano sa Luzon .. hindi daw nya napagaralan yung withdrawal .. kaya pag may umaatras na tropa papatakan nya ng mortar para mag advance.. 1978 during our ROTC Summer Camp Training at Ft Magsaysay, Palayan City sabay namin sila re training .. . skeleton Battalion ang 32nd dami nila casualty meron survivor karamihan may war shock.. . heroes welcome sila ng bumalik sa Luzon.

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  4. EDSNobyembre 5, 2016 nang 6:49 PM

    Taga M'lang, North Cotabato man ako like you Mortz Marcelo Ortigoza. I witnessed one operation led by Gen. Canieso at sitio Nuyo, at the boundary of Buldon, Maguindanao and Pigcawayan, North Cotabato. He was a good commanding officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion notably called "Imelda Battalion". I was then a very young civil engineer working for a logging company when he asked for one who could read a US Army Grid map. This map was produced sometime in 1935 where new roads and communities were not yet shown. He asked me, 'Boy, do you know how to read a map?’ I said, ‘yes sir, I am an ROTC graduate’. I oriented the map and answered all his questions. To his delight, he invited me in his jeep during one of his patrols. His command post was just near the logging camp where I lived.
    One day, there was a firefight and one of his soldiers was wounded and had to be rescued on foot. He took command of the radio and stepped up the rescue of the wounded soldier.
    I also found him to be too caring. Unable to take the Civil Engineering review in Cebu, I plunged into a dangerous work of building logging roads while there was an ongoing rebellion in the area. Before we parted, he thanked me for my small contribution. Too curious about my state, he advised me to find a job in the city. I heeded to him. I quit my job and took the Board review. After a few months of waiting for the examination result, I found myself in front of the HR of Stanfilco, holding a news clip together with my application letter. I was hired and promoted at once. I passed the Board exam!

    I always remember him an officer and gentleman.

    That was in 1974.

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  5. Rodolfo Esquejo Combat officers sometimes fail, with tactless imprudence, without yet confirming our whereabouts in the frontline for 9 hours, at Tumbao, Libungan Torreta, North Cotabato, one out of 6 artillery bombshell hit us, killing instantly my platoon leader, Lt Pontojas. While I was unscatched around 5 meters from him submerged in the 2ft marshland, being wounded earlier in the gunfight. I was able to withdraw and reached my A coy, 32IB encampment around 10pm, evacuated at Bn medical and got first aid. Canieso, our beleguered Bn Comdr, amazed in disbelief as I recounted the apparent error..I directly blamed him and could not find satisfactory answer to my questions..that's typically similar to Marawi incident. A friendly fire is more hurting than the enemy's fire! We are both Rodolfo, with Lt Rodolfo del Rosario as RSO, me as the Bn Supply Sgt at Jolo, the three of us signed the daily battle report I used to prepare and sometimes all alone in escorting the unserviceable firearms back to ACPAL, Zamboanga..

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  6. Vladimir Riviero It's a dirty job... but somebody's gotta do it.
    LikeShow more reactions · Reply · 1 hr
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    Danilo David
    Danilo David hindi naman talaga kailangan i marshall law, sapat na ang diskarte militar at hand to hand combat.
    LikeShow more reactions · Reply · 53 mins
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    Mary Vhie Patricia Madrigal
    Mary Vhie Patricia Madrigal Anong klaseng army officer yun? Akala ko pa naman they value life ayun pala hindi nila alam ang ibig sabihin ng salitang yun.
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    Percival Ecleo
    Percival Ecleo If we have teargas and fired it at the enemies' location, we can flush them out.

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  7. Mohaymen Sarif bakit muslim snipers ang naka lagay na pangalan ng kalaban? di ba pwedeng abusayaf or maute najan tae
    Like · Reply · 4 hrs
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    Rudyard Ryan Larosa
    Rudyard Ryan Larosa Oo nga medyo racist pero sir the article was just from another person pero Tama kayo.. pwede naman na MILF agad or Moro Rebels diba...
    Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs · Edited
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    Vince Flores Jr.
    Vince Flores Jr. Great job!!! We salute the real heroes of the country!!.... Duterte mabuhay.......!!!
    Like · Reply · 1 min

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  8. Romeo Ranay I remember the late General Caniezo - a good natured Ilonggo, sometimes we had morning coffee with him at Taglibi. He loves arty that I learned from him a lot.
    Like · Reply · 2 hrs
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    Eura Alamid Tolentino
    Eura Alamid Tolentino Jun Marzan Tolentino
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    Benjie Mangibin
    Benjie Mangibin Galing old 1srb tong lead squad ah? Limot ko lang ang surname nya

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  9. Ruperto Gonzales Parang chess board lang ang battlefield. Syempre may pawn sacrifice moves din to win. May "Games of the Generals" din

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  10. Rodolfo Esquejo We' re pawns.. We've been at Taglibi, Patikul and I was the Det Comdr after the town was gutted down..
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    Marc Marzn
    Marc Marzn Speed is defense!!!
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    Margarita Arevalo Zulueta
    Margarita Arevalo Zulueta True heard that story.. during my younger days in the service...upod ko si COL Julius Javier sa RP-US Balikatan sa Peftok Bldg.. sa Ft Bonifacio..late 80's..I was assigned there at RP-US MDB...Matapang talaga si Sir Julius..mga planners yan..sa Balikatan..share ko lang po.
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    Reley Majic Noon yon pero nasaan ngayon!

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  11. Dion Leonard Ebron C bataoil na assign yan sa negros noon, provincial commander ata.. Yun javier na tinutukoy sino kaya! , yan na kaya c general !
    LikeShow more reactions · Reply · 35 minutes ago · Edited
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    Marcelo Ortigoza Jr.
    Marcelo Ortigoza Jr. Oo, General julius Javier, just like the Kanyonero and Marcos Pet Peeve Rodolfo Canieso, hailed from Negros Occidental. Mga Ilonggo gid ginapala kag ginapiko ang kuarta sa Negros
    Like · Reply · 7 minutes ago
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    Dion Leonard Ebron
    Dion Leonard Ebron Ah, c kamag- anak pala, n stroke yata c general..
    Like · Reply · 1 · 3 minutes ago
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    Marcelo Ortigoza Jr.
    Marcelo Ortigoza Jr. Dion Leonard Ebron May ara dira poster si General Javier post or text sa akon sa Face Book dira sa blog ko amigo.
    Like · Reply · 2 minutes ago
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    Marcelo Ortigoza Jr.

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    Dion Leonard Ebron
    Dion Leonard Ebron Sumikat pala c kamag-anak, general julius javier . magigiting na angkan ng sundalo ang mga javier.. Kalapit bahay lang sa negros, pahilanga hinigaran sa nagros, pero parang na stroke c general.

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  12. evious comments
    Cardo Dalisay
    Cardo Dalisay Kahit ako hnd ako tatakbo. Sya na lang sya may idea nyan hello..
    Like · Reply · 19 hrs
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    Gilbert Doman
    Gilbert Doman Basahin mu story c officer pinain din sarili makita lang qng saan ngttgo sniper
    Like · Reply · 14 hrs
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    Cardo Dalisay
    Cardo Dalisay Kahit na Gilbert Doman isusugal mo buhay ng tao mo o mismo ang buhay mo.duwag na kung duwag iba yung patay na patay
    Like · Reply · 1 · 6 hrs
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    Mike Pinagpala
    Mike Pinagpala Gilbert Doman jajajaja
    Like · Reply · 5 hrs
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    Gilbert Doman
    Gilbert Doman Para saken Cardo Dalisay tama un kung hindi mpptay un sniper uubusin sila nun o kaya mas marami pang mpptay un. Kaya once and for all dapat mapatay na nila un sniper
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    Cardo Dalisay
    Cardo Dalisay Kanya2x tayong opinion brod.Mahirap magsalita pagwala sa sitwasyon maniwala ka kahit ikaw hnd mo gagawin yan pagnandun ka o inutusan kang gawin yun.Ang una mong sagot "MAUNA KA NA SIR" di ba? Para ka naman hnd pulis
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    Gilbert Doman
    Gilbert Doman Opinyon mu yan gingagalang kita pero indi q cguro mggwa s opisyal na sabihin mauna siya. Sa pagkakataong nangyare sa kanila pinakita ng opisyal nila na kaya niyang itaya buhay nya sundin lang siya ng mga tao niya
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    Gilbert Doman
    Gilbert Doman Tlgang nkktakot isugal buhay mas mabuti qng tau ang nasa ganoong sitwAsyon mllman qng ganu katibay disposisyon nten
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    Cardo Dalisay
    Cardo Dalisay Maniwala ka Gilbert Doman hnd magagawa yan.nasubukan na namin yan dto sa lugar namin noon wala niisa ang pumayag.madaling sabihin mahirap gawin
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    Gilbert Doman
    Gilbert Doman Disposisyon mu yan Cardo Dalisay good for you!
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    Mortz Marcelo Ortigoza

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