Desiderio P. Suson was a

Philippine Constabulary The Philippine Constabulary (PC; , ''HPP''; ) was a gendarmerie-type military police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Police. It was created by the Insular Government, American occupat ...

enlisted trooper and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for

courage Courage (also called bravery, valour ( British and Commonwealth English), or valor (American English)) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in ...

, the

Medal of Valor This list of medals for bravery is an index to articles about notable medals awarded for bravery or valor. These medals, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, are given to personnel who have serv ...

. Suson was assigned as the

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...

of a 14-man Philippine Constabulary detachment in Gamay, Northern Samar on 31 October 1980 when they came under attack from approximately 300

New People's Army The New People's Army (; abbreviated NPA or BHB) is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). It acts as the CPP's principal organization, aiming to consolidate political power from what it sees as the present "bourgeo ...

rebels. Suson and all his men were wounded. Suson retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. He is buried at the ''

Libingan ng mga Bayani Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB, , ) is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio (formerly Fort William McKinley) in Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig, Philippines. First established in May 1947 as a fitting resting place for Philippine mili ...

'' in

Taguig Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig (), is the List of cities in the Philippines, fifth-most populous city in the Philippines situated on the eastern shores of Metro Manila, the national capital region. It is a center for culture, finance ...

Metro Manila Metropolitan Manila ( ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; ), is the capital region and largest List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines, metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located ...

Medal of Valor citation

"By direction of the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

, pursuant to paragraph 3a, Section I,

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) () are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Philippine Army, Army, the Philippine Air Force, Air Force, and the Philippine Navy, Navy (including the P ...

Regulations G 131-052, this Headquarters, dated 24 April 1967, the MEDAL FOR VALOR is hereby awarded to:

Technical Sergeant Desiderio P Suson 575127
Philippine Constabulary

"for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty as Commander of a 14-man Philippine Constabulary Detachment during a surprise attack on his unit by some 300 Communist terrorists at Barangay Bangon, Gamay, Northern Samar on 31 October 1980. Outnumbered by the enemy by a ratio of one to nineteen, all his men were wounded as a result of intensive firing from assorted enemy weapons and M79 rockets. Surrounded on all sides and with no way to escape, then Sergeant Suson ordered his men to make every shot count by aiming accurately, and to hold their ground at all cost. Sensing his men were momentarily paralyzed because of shock, he went leapfrogging from one foxhole to another to direct their fire. Despite the blood oozing from his wounds, he never lost composure. With indomitable courage, he crawled to his wounded comrades, encouraging them to carry on the fight to the end."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suson, Desiderio Date of birth missing Date of death missing Recipients of the Philippine Medal of Valor Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor Philippine Constabulary personnel