Soldier hailed for bravery in 2015 dies in Davao del Sur car crash

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — An Army lieutenant who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Star, the second highest military award in the Philippines, in 2015 died in a car accident in Malita, Davao del Sur this week.

1Lt. Jerson Sanchez, who belonged to the Class 2014 of the Philippine Military Academy, was a company commander in the 73rd Infantry Battalion, which operates in parts of Davao del Sur.

Sanchez was killed in a car accident Tuesday while returning to their company command post from Davao City.

His remains are slated for airlift to Manila on Thursday, according to senior officials of the 73rd IB.

DCS awardee in 2015

President Benigno Aquino III personally awarded Sanchez the vaunted Distinguished Conduct Star in 2015 for bravery in combat.

The medal was for his gallantry in leading a team that fought for eight hours against a big group of New People’s Army guerrillas in Alabel town in Sarangani province on February 16, 2015.

He was given the award at the graduation ceremony for PMA's Class 2015.

Sanchez and his subordinates had been dispatched to Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel to check on the reported presence there of NPAs collecting “protection money” from villagers when they were attacked from different directions.

Although outnumbered, Sanchez and his men managed to outflank their ambushers, killing seven NPAs and wounding five others in the ensuing encounter.

Among the seven slain NPAs was Commander Brigol, whose real name was Tolentino Bariquit.

He was wanted for heinous offenses, including arson, multiple murder, extortion and large-scale propagation of marijuana plants.