Palawan honors fallen soldier in fight vs. NPA with memorial marker

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, Philippines — What was once a common household name for his family now marks a significant place in the history of the province of Palawan as the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command (Wescom) celebrates the Staff Sergeant Cesar R. Barlas Day with the unveiling of a memorial marker at Mendoza Park last Thursday, Sept. 3, on the occasion of his sixth death anniversary, honoring him and the legacy he left behind. Back in September 3, 2020, Barlas was leading a four-man team from the Marine 61st Force Reconnaissance Company in a combat operation in Sitio Cabuluan, Barangay Mainit of Brooke’s Point town when, at the break of day, they encountered a group of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels that resulted in an eight-minute firefight. Barlas was killed in the clash. According to Maj. Gen. Vicente MAP Blanco, Philippine Marine Corps Commandant, the encounter “changed the course of Palawan’s history.” It was part of a series of operations conducted by Wescom through the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBde) where five high-ranking NPA leaders were also killed, resulting in the group’s dismantling and the eventual declaration of Palawan as insurgency-free in 2023. READ: Gov’t declares victory over Reds in Palawan The AFP described Barlas’ actions as a sacrifice acting beyond the call of duty, and for such, he was awarded the Medal of Valor by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in December 2023, making him the first and only Palaweño so far to have received the highest award in military service. Last 2025, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Palawan also recognized Barlas’ heroism through Resolution no. 21441 series of 2025 for his extraordinary courage during the encounter, displaying exceptional bravery and sacrifice that ultimately cost him his life. READ: Intensify fight vs terror financing – Marcos to AFP During Thursday’s ceremony, Wescom chief Vice Admiral Alan Javier said the gathering was not just to unveil a memorial marker but to “remember a Filipino who gave the highest sacrifice in the service of his country.” “Today we unveil a marker, but our greatest responsibility is to ensure that the memory and values it processes will not be forgotten. Staff Sergeant Barlas was the son of Palawan, a marine, a comrade, and a Filipino who answered the call of duty with extraordinary courage. His ultimate sacrifice earned him the medal of valor, a distinction that reflects the highest ideals of courage, gallantry, and selfless service,” Javier said. “But today and this moment is not only about the medal. It is about the man behind the medal, the family behind the hero, the legacy behind the sacrifice,” he added. Javier said that while it is part of a price that each member of the armed forces is willing to take, the service in uniform is also a commitment and sacrifice that the family of a soldier shares. He said the SSgt. Barlas Memorial Marker will stand as a permanent reminder to every soldier of the commitment and principle that their uniform carries. /cb