MURCIA, Negros Occ. - For Brig. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, a Medal of Valor awardee for extra-ordinary exploits displayed during the raid of a New People's Army training camp in Murcia in 1990, his return to Negros after 17 years brought back a lot of good memories.

Flying and overlooking the Kanlandog mountain ranges in Brgy. Pandanon, Murcia, and Sitio Pata-an in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City, during the weekend, Ortiz said " I can't help but feel nostalgic about those places." Ortiz, then a young captain, and his men, despite being heavily outnumbered by rebels, raided a training camp of the New People's Army in Sitio Manipulon, Brgy. Pandanon, Murcia in 1990, killing at least 50 rebels and recovering more than 60 high-powered firearms.

The 606th Special Forces Company headed by Ortiz, which has been absorbed by the Presidential Security Group, had also marked accomplishments in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City, which is now the site of the state-owned geothermal power plant.

" I am happy to be here once again, to set foot in Negros where I got my fulfilling assignment, the most fruitful and productive, as far as my military career is concerned. This is where I spent the best years of my life as a junior officer", Ortiz said.

Ortiz joined the short list of military officers since World War 2 awarded the Medal of Valor, the highest and most-coveted military medal for AFP members.

Ortiz who accompanied Maj. Gen. Benito Ramos, commanding general of the Army's Special Operations Command, who also served in central Negros for almost two years, also acknowledged the help of the private sector, local government officials, community and even the media, in his peace and development campaign from 1989 to 1991, which had immensely contributed in the stabilized peace and order being enjoyed now by the Negrenses.

"I am happy that I was able to contribute to the relative peace that is now prevailing in Negros as shown by the development here," Ortiz said.

Ortiz is now commanding the elite Special Forces Regiment of the Philippine Army, which was responsible for the neutralization of Abu Solaiman, one of the most-feared Abu Sayyaf leader with a bounty on his head of $5 million offered by the United States government.

Ramos, who used to command the 6th SF Battalion in stationed in Brgy. La Granja, La Carlota City, said the peace and order in Negros is much better with Gen. Greg Fajardo, with assistance from a Scout Ranger unit, compared to 17 years ago.

"We have a relative peace already," he added.

"The Ilonggo people registered a name in my heart. Thank you for giving me a home for some time here," Ramos, who is retiring on March 21 from the military service, said.*GPB

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