Marine Corps honors fallen Marawi comrades on 67th ‘birthday’

Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño, command of the Philippine Marine Corps, gives a speech at the 67th founding anniversary of his unit on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)

The Philippine Marine Corps paid tribute to its fallen comrades in Marawi City as it celebrated its 67th founding anniversary on Tuesday, with President Rodrigo Duterte as guest of honor.

“Our experience in Marawi will form part of our history,” said Marines chief Maj. Gen. Alvin Parreño in his speech at the ceremonies held at the corps headquarters in Taguig City.

“There is how our Marines personified the warrior stories with our countless stories of gallantry and loyalty to the corps,” he added. “Lieutenant Abad, Lieutenant Savellano, and other names whose acts of heroism will never be forgotten. Their sacrifices will forever be part of our rich narrative and inspirtaion to be a better Marine Corps.”

Parreño was referring to 1st Lt. Raymond Abad and 1st Lt. John Frederick Savellano, who were killed in action in Marawi.

A 7-minute video showed clips and photos of Marines in the battlezone, capped off with the photos of the 35 members of the Marines who were killed during the five-month Marawi siege.

“In every war story, there are heroes who are wounded,” Parreño said. “And more sadly, there are those who have gone before us. For sure, no story and no hero will be left forgotten, including 357 wounded and 35 killed in Marawi, two killed in Sulu, and two killed in Palawan.”

The Marine Corps celebrated its founding anniversary as a “birthday,” with a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, as its members treat the unit as a living entity. /atm