Army captain, soldier die in Marawi as they rescue comrade

President Rodrigo Duterte pays his last respects to Captain Rommel Sandoval, whose body was about to be transported to Manila from Cagayan de Oro City on September 11, 2017. Sandoval was the Company Commander of the 11th Scout Ranger Company/ Presidential Photo

A captain of the Army’s Scout Rangers was one of the latest fatalities in Marawi City, after he tried to save one of his men.

Captain Rommel Sandoval, commanding officer of the 11th Scout Ranger Company, was killed last Sunday in an operation against the ISIS-linked Maute Group in the town of Dansalan, said Army spokesman Ltc. Ray Tiongson.

The captain was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2005.

Sandoval was killed with his companion, Private First Class Sherwin Canapi, as they tried to rescue their wounded comrade.

One of Sandoval’s men was trapped and wounded in a building when they decided to rescue him. The commanding officer ordered the others to cover fire for them as they tried to recover the team leader.

“Naiwan sa isang floor ang isang team leader niya na wounded. Binabaril-baril pa ng mga ISIS ang kanyang team leader habang wounded na nga,” said a Facebook post from the Scout Ranger Books, a page that pays tribute to Philippine Scout Rangers.

“Naabutan pa niya ang tao niya at nakunan ang pulso. Kaso inabangan siya ng maraming ISIS at binaril una sa tagiliran. Kahit da-dalawa lang sila, naka fire back pa sa mga bumaril,” the post read.

But the gunshot on the one side of the junior officer’s cheek turned out to be fatal. They were the latest fatalities as the military continued its goal to liberate Marawi City.

His remains were transported to Manila on Monday.
President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit his wake at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday night. /je