MEDAL FOR VALOR AWARDEES

CORPORAL ROMUALDO C RUBI 713103 PA

Surigao Del Sur- 15 March 1991

For acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, during an encounter with heavily armed and numerically superior NPA rebels at Barangay Hayanggabon, Claver, Surigao del Norte,  on 18 March 1991.

While on his way from a visit to his family to join his unit, the Special Operations Team of the 29th Infantry Battalion, 4ID, PA operating in Tandag, Surigao del Sur, and while waiting for the departure of the pump boat which will take him to Tandag, about 100 terrorists under Commander Lima, Commanding Officer of Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit F-16, Surigao del Norte Provincial Party Committee swooped down on a nearby PC Detachment. Faced with imminent danger, he immediately fired his M16 rifle towards the enemy position hitting three of them. A roaring volley of enemy fire was then focused on him. However, he was able to run and maneuver for cover at the end of the Hayanggabon wharf, about 200 meters away where he established a defense position. Eight terrorists suddenly dashed towards his position but he singlehandedly confronted the approaching enemy, hitting them at close range and killing three of them and wounding the rest. The enraged Commander Lima, together with another seven of his men, and with the support of cover fires from an M203 grenade launcher and an M60 Machine Gun, simultaneously advanced and fired to neutralize him. Despite the seemingly impossible situation he was in, he resolutely fought the advancing enemy, thereby fatally hitting Commander Lima and one of his companions.

The death of Commander Lima lessened the enemy pressure and gave him the chance to withdraw from his position after two hours of intense firefight. Sensing that the enemy reinforcement was fast approaching and knowing that he could no longer sustain a prolonged engagement due to his dwindling ammunition, he then decided to swim with a pump boat along his side for cover. At exactly 1700H, about 90 more terrorists arrived to overwhelm him. As he cunningly maneuvered for about 100 meters away from the terrorists from the far end of the wharf, he courageously exchanged fire again hitting some of them until he finally reached the PC Company Headquarters at Hayanggabon. This encounter resulted in eight enemies killed, including Commander Lima, and three others wounded.

By this indomitable courage, CORPORAL RUBI distinguished himself in combat in keeping with the finest tradition of Filipino soldiery.