Soldier slain in Sulu clash was a ‘general’ to his mom

SLAIN 1st Lt. Roger Flores was a multiawarded soldier who excelled in his work. PHOTO from Facebook account

ILOILO CITY—They should call you the ‘mother of a general,’” 1st Lt. Roger Flores would often tease his mother, Remia.

Flores had dreamt of one day becoming the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“He wanted reforms in our country and the Armed Forces. He was sick of corruption in the government,” Remia said.

Those dreams, along with those for his family, died with Flores on June 19 after he and six other soldiers died in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul town in Sulu province.

Ten bandits were also killed while 24 other soldiers were wounded in one of the bloodiest clashes between government forces and the bandit group this year.

Flores, 30, was the incoming commanding officer of the elite 64th Marine Company (special operations) unit.

His remains were brought by a Philippine Air Force Fokker plane to Iloilo City and now lie at Somo Funeral Homes.

Even as his family and fellow soldiers struggle with grief and pain over his death, they are also proud of the slain soldier’s selfless dedication to the country.

Flores earned an electrical engineering degree with honors at Central Philippine University in Iloilo City but he had plans other than to become an engineer.

“It was Embong’s (Flores’ nickname) ambition to enroll in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) despite my opposition,” Remia told the Inquirer.

Remia, 57, relented after Flores told her he had already followed her wish for him to finish his engineering course.

But even if he was far from his family, he continued to support them by sending most of his salary and allowance in the PMA to his mother.

As a student, Flores was already a recognized leader and excelled in both academic and extracurricular activities.

Flores was one of 2009’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines.

He graduated third in the PMA’s Masiglahi Class of 2009 and received the Secretary of National Defense Saber, Philippine Navy Saber and Joint United States Military Advisory Group  award.

The slain officer was also a top graduate of the US Marine Corp Basic Officer Course.

At the time of his death, Flores was due for promotion to the rank of captain and was acting commanding officer of his unit.

Despite being asthmatic, Flores was known to be one of the physically strongest and fittest in his unit.

Those who worked with Flores knew him as a strong-willed officer who was meticulous in his work and plans for his family.

Flores was planning to marry his fiancée, Bernadethe Luminario, later this year.

Despite the risks, Flores had wanted to be assigned to the field rather than to administrative and desk work.

“He got bored when he was assigned at Fort Bonifacio in Manila because he preferred to be  in the field to show that soldiering is not just about  war but also  helping communities,” Remia said.

During those times when he came home and spent time with family, Flores often teased his mother and only sibling and elder sister, Sharon May.

The last time he was home was Dec. 28, 2013, to Jan. 12.

“That was the first and last time that he was with us to celebrate New Year,” Sharon May said.

Sharon May said Flores spent hours on the videoke “even if he knew  he was always out of tune.”

His family also recalled his love of books.

“Out of the 10 boxes of personal belongings sent to us, eight of these were boxes of books,”  his sister said.

His father, Rogelio, said his son’s favorite quote was: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” by Irish philosopher and statesman Edward Burke.

“I did not cry when my parents and sibling died. But I cried seven times for my son during the necrological rites because I will take his place now if I will be given that chance,”  Rogelio said.