2 Navy gunboats named after fallen Medal of Valor awardees
Jasmin Joy Escobido shows the portrait of her partner Corporal General Tinangag through her smartphone. (John Eric Mendoza/INQUIRER.net)
Marilyn Juatno holds a portrait of her brother Sergeant Domingo Deluana. (John Eric Mendoza/INQUIRER.net)
CAVITE CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Navy named its two gunboats in honor of the Medal of Valor awardees who were killed in Battle of Marawi and campaign in Maguindanao, providing a bittersweet moment to their loved ones.
With the late soldiers’ relatives in attendance, the two Israeli-made fast attack interdiction craft platforms are now christened as BRP Gener Tinangag and BRP Domingo Deluana during a ceremony here in Naval Station Pascual Ledesma.
Corporal Tinangag
During the Battle of Marawi, Corporal Tinangag, 23, was the assistant rifleman who rescued four wounded Marines before he was killed by an enemy sniper with a shot to the stomach.
Jasmin Joy Escobido, Tinangag’s spouse, said she will never forget the last words of her partner during the battle: “Don’t worry, I am coming home soon.”
Escobido, who said she was elated when she learned that a gunboat will be named after Tinangag, described her partner as “good, loving and thoughtful.”
“I was very happy when someone called to inform me that one of the ships will be named after Corporal Gener Tinangag,” Escobido said.
Escobido and Tinangag have a son, who the widow said may follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I think he feels happy,” she said. “Even if his father was already gone when he was very young.”
Sgt. Deluana
Marilyn Juatno, Deluana’s younger sister, was surprised when her brother was given the distinction 23 years after his death.
“We are very happy and proud that, 23 years after he passed, he was given this recognition by the Navy,” Juatno said.
“We did not expect that, after his death, the officials would still remember him.”
Sergeant Deluana provided suppressive fire to cover the medical evacuation of his wounded Marines until an RPG blast caught them during the campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Maguindanao in 2000.
Describing him as “kind and helpful”, Juatno said her brother has helped his poor relatives a lot.
“We have so many good memories of him,” she said.
“We are happy, but we also feel sad because had he been alive, he would have appreciated this award,” Juatno said, on the verge of tears.
“Even if he had this award, he’s still gone.”
