Noel S. Buan

Noel S. Buan is a Philippine Army officer and a recipient the Philippines' highest military award for courage - the Medal of Valor. Buan, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class 1984, was captured and held by the communist New People's Army in July 1999 while serving as an intelligence officer with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command. He was released after 21 months of captivity in April 2001. In 2004, while serving as Commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion in Basilan, Buan orchestrated a military operation that resulted in the deaths of Abu Sayyaf leader Hamsiraji Marusi Sali and his brother Sahir.

Capture by New People's Army
On November 8, 1999, then-Major Buan was abducted by the Melito Glor Command of the New People's Army while serving as an intelligence officer with the AFP Southern Luzon Command in Quezon. It was believed that he was targeted for capture due to the nature of his military duties and that he had sensitive information regarding the revolutionary movement.

Buan was released after 21 months in captivity on April 6, 2001 in Oriental Mindoro. Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, NPA spokesman, stated that Buan was steadfast in captivity and even managed to escape and evade his captors for 12 hours in December 2000. However, due to weakness, he was unable to make good his escape. Despite this, reports of his going over to the rebel side were aired, and he was debriefed after his release. Buan subsequently returned to active military service.

Action against the Abu Sayyaf
On April 8, 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Noel Buan, commanding the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion in Basilan, figured in a firefight with Abu Sayyaf leader Hamsiraji Sali and six others including Sali's younger brother Sahir, also called Yashier Sali. Hamsiraji Sali was implicated in the kidnapping of an American Jeffrey Schilling, the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnappings and had a $1M bounty on his head. All six Abu Sayyaf members were killed. Buan's troops suffered one killed and four wounded, including Buan himself.

Buan and one of his men, Staff Sergeant Leopoldo Diokno, were awarded Gold Cross medals, which were later upgraded to Distinguished Conduct Stars. In what would prove to be a controversial move, these medals were later further upgraded to the Medal of Valor, which was approved by then-Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.