POW

Below is the video of 1Lt. Vicente P. Cammayo, Commanding Officer of the 11th Company of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion-AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] who was captured following an encounter with the elements of the New People’s Army under the Alejandro Lanaja Command dated 07 November 2008 at Barangay Casoon, Com Val [Compostela Valley] province.



The video was released to the media by the Merardo Arce Command Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command of the New People's Army who claimed that Lieutenant Cammayo is being held as a Prisoner Of War by the rebels.


It's nice to know that the soldier's human rights is being respected by the rebels and we pray for his safe release soon do that he can be reunited with his family. However, the young soldier will be better off to part ways with the military if ever that day comes for his own sake for he will never live down this incident. It’s one thing to be captured alive by the enemy; it’s another thing when the men you commanded perished with their boots on in the said encounter.

Now, this is not to belittle Lt. Cammayo's resolve nor question his judgment and frame of mind but if I was in his shoes I will go down with my men fighting. I will never allow myself to be captured alive and be made into a propaganda material by the enemy to further their cause.

Being a soldier and an officer of an elite unit at that, much is expected of him compared to being just an “ordinary" soldier. He should have used his training to escape and evade being captured by the enemy.

The prospect of giving the supreme sacrifice in the performance of one’s duty is a given the day you decide to enter the service. And dying with your men in battle and in defense of the people is the most honorable thing that a soldier can do for his honor and country.

Hooah!