Gazmin, Roxas, military brass send off latest gov’t fatalities

First Lieutenant Francis G Damian. PHOTO from Philippine Army Public Affairs Office

ZAMBOANGA CITY—High-ranking government and security officials on Wednesday led the send-off for an Army officer and two Special Action Force troopers who were killed in action while fighting with Moro National Liberation Front rebels.

Army Scout Ranger Lt. Francis Damian, SAF PO1 Enrique Afable and SAF PO2 Lavin Salisa were killed in close-quarter combat.

They were given departure honors at the Edwin Andrews Air Base, led by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and SAF Director Carmelo Balmoria.

Accompanied by their families, the remains of Damian, Afable and Salisa were flown on an Air Force C130 cargo plane.

They were expected to arrive at the Villamor Air Base in Manila at around 1 p.m.