FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army took custody of two antique firearms owned by the late former Army Commanding General Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat here today, October 5, 2020.
Abat’s son-in-law, retired Police Maj. Gen. Jaime Caringal, turned over the firearms for safe keeping to Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana and the Army Chief Historian Mr. Emeterio Ornedo Jr. Also present in the event were retired Gen. Alexander Yano and Gen. Victor S Ibrado who were both former Commanding Generals themselves.
Citing Abat’s notes, the revolver which is a US Army Special Colt .38 1884 model was used during the Indian Wars. It was presented to him by the then United Sates Army Chief of Staff Gen. Bernard Rogers in December 1978. On the other hand, the rifle which is an SS1-V1 Kal. 5.56 was given by the Minister of State for Research and Technology, Republik of Indonesia when Abat was the Secretary of National Defense.
Abat served as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 1976 to 1981. He was enlisted during World War II and was a key actor in the organization of the Central Mindanao Command that fought the Moro National Liberation Front rebellion in the 70s.
“These firearms tell us about the shared history of military institutions in the regional community. In digging deeper into the provenance of these items, we can more thoroughly connect to the events and stories that transpired during the period when they were used. As a bequest of a late former Commander of the Army, Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat, these are already valuable enough,” said Ornedo.#