PAFCPIC

GAMU, ISABELA, 6 November 2018 – Executives and staff from the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative (PAFCPIC) were in attendance to express solidarity with the 5^th Infantry Division (5^th ID) during its 47^th Death Anniversary Program celebrating the life of Col Melchor F Dela Cruz. One of the program’s highlights was PAFCPIC Chairperson BGen Francisco M Paredes (Ret) leading the PAFCPIC contingent in donating a Mitsubishi L300 van to the 5^th ID.

The late colonel, after whom the 5^th ID’s main camp had been named, was a respected commander and celebrated hero in the region.

“We are privileged to be here, basking in the nobility and solemnity of this occasion,” stated Chairperson Paredes. “Colonel Dela Cruz is a person I continue to hold in high respect both in a personal and official capacity. Personal because he was married to my aunt-in-law. Official because I reported to him for my airborne training in 1967. He really had quite the aura of authority and leadership. He told me to jump, and without hesitation I jumped.”

Special guests of the 5^th ID included family and relatives of Col Dela Cruz who shared to the crowd their own recollections of the colonel’s life.

Colonel Dela Cruz was born in 1963 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1953, after which he was assigned as a junior officer to the 8^th Battalion Combat Team and later the 10^th Battalion Combat Team which confronted the Hukbalahaps in Central Luzon. His unit was later moved to Isabela where he met his wife.

The rest of his career was characterized by training in elite units and global military institutions, coupled with zealous commitment to take what he learned in order to help catapult elite Philippine military units to world-class status. He was a decorated soldier who received many honors, until his death at age 39 when his helicopter was shot down by insurgents only weeks before he was to be promoted to the rank of General.

Today, the 5^th ID’s camp is named after him, and his bravery and combat prowess is celebrated until today by the officers and personnel of what some consider to be the “fightingest” division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. PAFCPIC was there to celebrate his life with the 5^th ID and to provide support with the donation of a service vehicle.

The 5^th ID’s Commander, Major General Perfecto Rimando Jr, was pleased with PAFCPIC’s show of support and expressed gratefulness for the donation.

For his part, Chairperson Paredes also expressed gratitude to 5^th ID personnel for patronizing PAFCPIC’s financial services.

“Of the 5^th ID’s total personnel of around 4,500, more than 3,900 are PAFCPIC members in good standing," said Chairperson Paredes. “From our records, members from this command have been granted loans totaling PhP 1.1 billion since the start of the year…. Please rest assured that your joy in receiving our donation is only half of our joy in giving it to you.”