Table Talk By: Mike S. Apostol A General and a gentleman Exciting and heroic stories of soldiers and law enforcers are the “talk of the town” now that the bloody siege of the MNLF is on its second week and still counting. We hear stories of soldiers and policemen braving exchange of gunfire to rescue a hostage or assist a wounded comrade. But one story is extraordinary when a general himself will lead to battle a group of “almost to retire” soldiers to protect a government property from being overran by rebels. One story that intrigued Table Talk from a retired marine soldier was that, the Deputy Commander of Western Mindanao Command, Marine Brig. Gen. Orlando de leon, who lives in Zamboanga City with his family responded to the call of duty last Monday September 9, that the invading MNLF are posed to attack and occupy the Zamboanga City Medical Center in sta. Catalina at the first day of MNLF siege of Zamboanga City. General De Leon responded with haste and automatically bringing with him almost to retire Marine Soldiers which he can find that early dawn of Monday and stopped on the track the MNLF fighters who were on their way to the government hospital. *** Table Talk made some research on this General who was willing to give his life for Zamboanga City and knew that he is residing with his family in Zamboanga City, at the Katatagan Subdivision in Malagutay, beside the swamp (pantano), a soldiers village (not officers village) and married to a Zamboanguena, from the family of Macasinags and have 4 children all studied their early education in Zamboanga City and 3 of his broods are already professionals. *** General De Leon belongs to PMA Class 82 and among his class he is the youngest to be a full pledge Colonel. When he was a 2nd Leutenant in the Marine Corp, he was one of those officers under the late marine Colonel Abet, to do the longest walk from Zamboanga to Davao City to operate against the enemies of the government and only a few of them returned to Zamboanga City. General de Leon is one of the most decorated soldier of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. *** He assumed as deputy of Lt. General Rey Aldo of Wesmincom only recently and only last year before the mid-term national election. Prior to being the Wesmincom Deputy Commander, Gen. De Leon was the Brigade Commander of the 2nd Marine Landing Battalion in Sulu and concurrently was the Commander of Task Force Sulu. When he was in Sulu, he engaged the MNLF and other lawless elements and earned for him a name feared by the rebels. He was also assigned in Basilan and was responsible in the released of Fr. Nacorda by the Abu Sayyaf. *** General Orlando De Leon was not given his own command during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA), when he was the Marine Chief Of Staff of Marine Commandant Miranda where he refused to cooperate with PGMA by spilling information against the Marines. He remained a true marine Soldier until today not enriching himself in all the positions he handled and remain a simple soldier living within his means and living in a soldier’s village. He also continue to live in Zamboanga with his family. *** Scoop: Table Talk will write more on the exploits of a Marine Brigadier General Orlando De Leon on our coming columns. It is worth writing the exploits of a soldier who does not “blow his horn”. Agree or disagree. ***
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 02:03:40 +0000
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