PATAG, Cagayan de Oro City – Another five (5) Army personnel who died during the C130 plane crash in Patikul, Sulu arrived on Monday in Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City after authorities successfully identified their remains.
Added to the list of identified Army personnel were PFC Carlos D Dapanas Jr PA – Manticao, MisOr; TSg Nelson B Hadjiri PA – Kadingilan, Bukidnon; PFC Philip Dante T Camilosa PA – Bit-os, Butuan City; Pvt Carlos Jhun C Paragua Jr PA – Manila De Bugabos, Butuan City; and Cpl Jay-ar V Obenita PA – Lianga, Surigao del Sur.
Major General Romeo Saturnino Brawner Jr, Commander of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, disclosed that they are among the 2nd batch of identified Army personnel who were given release papers by the Western Mindanao Command and to be transported to their respective residences. Included also were PFC Keth Kane S Alegarme PA – Sinacaban, MisOcc; PFC Marchi E Bonzales PA – Tigbao, Zamboanga Del Sur; and Pvt Archie S Barba PA – Datu Abdul, Panabo City.
“The families of the recently identified soldiers were already officially informed. They were transported yesterday morning by a C295 military aircraft from Zamboanga City to Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City around 11AM. We have now a total of 17 identified Army personnel with still 20 remains left unidentified”, Brawner Jr said.
It can be recalled that last July 7, 2021, the 4ID extended military honors and transportation assistance to the 6 out of the first 9 identified Army personnel.
Meanwhile, MGen Brawner Jr led the presentation of the Order of Lapu-Lapu award to the fallen soldiers on behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Said award is a national order of merit conferred by the President to officials and personnel of the government and private individuals in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President.
On the citation of the award, He stated “Ating bigyang pugay ang kabayanihan ng mga nasawing sundalo na handang magbuwis ng buhay para sa ating bayan. Hindi nila alintana ang peligro na naka-amba sa kanilang buhay bagkus ay buong puso nilang tinanggap at pinangatawanan upang magampanan ang sinumpaang tungkulin para sa bayan”.
Brawner Jr also personally handed over the Command’s Financial Assistance to the families and led a holy mass to pray and honor the said fallen heroes.
“Inaalay po namin ang mataas na pagpupugay at taos-pusong pasasalamat sa lahat ng nasawi kasama ang patuloy pa ring nagpapagaling sa iba’t ibang hospital. Ang amin ding pagpupugay sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at ibat ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na nakiisa at tumutulong sa mga pamilya ng ating mga bayaning sundalo. Kayo po ang inspirasyon at nagbibigay lakas loob sa amin at sa bawat sundalo na ipagpatuloy ang aming mandato na paigtingin ang pagserbisyu sa mamamayan at wakasan ang insurhensiya”, Brawner Jr emphasized.
A Send-Off Ceremony with full military honors was accorded today to the said fallen soldiers as their remains will return to their home provinces.
