Death in line of duty is honorable, says Army general in tribute to fallen soldiers
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao, Philippines – Military honors were given to five soldiers whose remains arrived here Tuesday after they were killed in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan on Sunday.
“As soldiers, we are all brothers. In the big Philippine Army family, losing members this way is painful for all. Death in the line of duty is honorable,” Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, told reporters after the plane side honors.
“As soldiers, we have to live by our sacred oath to serve the Filipino nation at all cost,” Pangilinan said.
He led the airport ceremony for five of the six slain soldiers whose bodies were brought Tuesday to the Awang aiport in Maguindanao from Zamboanga City by an Air Force C-130 plane.
The soldiers were enlisted in the 64th Infantry Battalion through the recruitment program of the 6th ID. The 64th IB was assigned in Maguindanao but was moved to Lanao del Sur in 2013 and later to Basilan.
The remains of Sergeant Tranquilino Germo, Privates First Class Rolando Entera, Freddie Pandoy, all in Aleosan town, and Mark Singson of Pigcawayan town, were later brought to North Cotabato.
Another ambush fatality, Private First Class Raffy Canuto, is from Barangay (village) Pansod in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
Rudy, Canuto’s father, said he talked to his son a month ago during which he asked to be excused from the planned family gathering on Christmas Day.
“He said he could not make it next month, maybe next year he will surely attend any family gathering,” the elder Canuto said of his bachelor son.
“He told me he could not make it because of his assignments and apologized. He promised to make up for his absence when he comes home next year,” the older Canuto said in Hiligaynon.
He said he was proud that his son died a hero in a line of work that expressed his love for the country.
Maria Fe, wife of Sergeant Germo, said that with her husband gone, she was at a loss about what to do with their three children.
Her eldest son, Jayvon, 13, vowed to help his mother make a living for the family. They live in New Panay village of Aleosan in North Cotabato.
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