GENERAL SANTOS ARCHIVE

BIOGRAPHY

THE MEDAL OF VALOR

  • While at the station, he was ordered to participate in the noted
    Bayang Cotta campaign in which three (3) companies of the
    Constabulary and two (2) companies of Philippine Scouts took
    active part. It was in this campaign that 2nd Lt. Santos
    distinguished himself and won his Medal of Valor.
    • The year was 1917. The remnants of the band of Ampuan
    Agaos, the most notorious of all Lanao outlaw chiefs and
    other outlaw bands challenged the authority of the
    government.
  • The Muslims numbering more than 1,500, occupied a group
    of well-constructed and strongly fortified cottas at Bayang on
    the shores of Lake Lanao. Around these forts they had
    constructed elaborate construction of bamboo and barbed
    wire to prevent the troops from emplacing scaling ladders.
  • Col. Ole C. Waloe, veteran of Pulajan campaign in Leyte and
    after whom the town of Waloe, Agusan was named, and
    commander of the Mindanao and Sulu Constabulary from
    1917 to 1924 opened an attack with mountain guns. After
    several hours, the high explosive shells had cleared a path
    through the obstructions surrounding the nearest cotta.
    • When he ordered the assault, a gallant young Filipino
    Lieutenant pleaded for the honor of leading the platoon which
    was to place the scaling ladders. The request was granted.
    The assault was successful, the first cotta was stormed and
    some 30 of its garrison men slain. One soldier was killed and
    five men were wounded. The lieutenant received a near fatal
    gunshot wound at the back of his head.
    • For his gallant conduct in this fight, 2nd Lt. Santos was
    awarded – 18 years later the Medal of Valor.

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