Duterte visits wake of soldiers slain in clash

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte paid his respects yesterday to two soldiers killed in a recent clash with communist rebels during the wake of the victims here.

Duterte offered his condolences to the families of slain troopers Corporal Marzon Morales and Private Oshin Rosala at the Loyola Chapel at the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID) headquarters at Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag in this city.

The two soldiers were killed in action during the firefight between government forces and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in upland villages in Misamis Oriental early this week.

“I have to be with my soldiers when they suffer. Kailangan nandoon ako (I need to be there),” the President told the officers and trustees of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry during an assembly Thursday night in Mactan, Cebu.

Duterte had earlier visited Camp Teodulfo Bautista station hospital in Jolo, Sulu to check on soldiers wounded during the latest encounters with Abu Sayyaf bandits.

He also extended cash assistance and awarded the injured soldiers in Jolo as well as those confined at the Camp Brig. Gen. Edilberto Evangelista Station Hospital when he proceeded to Cagayan de Oro City yesterday afternoon. 

Duterte stressed that he feels the sufferings of his soldiers and policemen who fight to protect the country, that is why he has to be with them in trying times. 

He had visited almost all the major military units as well as police headquarters all over the country since he assumed office last June 30, 2016.

Wounded soldiers

Some 17 soldiers were wounded after fresh fighting erupted between government forces and the Abu Sayyaf on Friday morning in the mountains of Patikul, Sulu.

The firefight occurred hours before President Duterte visited Jolo in the afternoon to check on wounded soldiers in a military hospital inside Camp Teodulfo Bautista.

Col. Benjamin Hao Jr., Army spokesman, said fighting took place between members of the 32rd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Ernesto Flores Jr. and over 100 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Radullan Sahiron at sitio Kan Udong, Barangay Igasan, Patikul town.

He said 17 soldiers were wounded when they were hit by M203 grenades. 

Military official were not available to provide official details of the encounter as they were preoccupied with Duterte’s visit.

Last Wednesday, at least 11 soldiers were also wounded in the encounter in the mountain range of Bud Taran in Indanan town against the Abu Sayyaf that beheaded 70-year old German Juergen Gustav Kantner last weekend.

At least five militants were killed in that assault launched by Army rangers.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded Kantner last Feb. 26 after a deadline set to pay P30-million ransom lapsed.

Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año also visited the 4ID headquarters and talked with the relatives of Morales and Rosala.

Duterte also visited wounded soldiers confined at the division’s hospital.

Relatives grieve

Rosala’s father Reynaldo, 71, said his family didn’t expect his son to be killed. He served only for eight months.

He said they were shocked when neighbors informed them that Oshin was killed in action. The neighbors heard the news on the radio.

The elder Rosala described his son, the youngest of nine children, as the silent type.

He said Oshin used to teach automotive at a technical school here, then briefly worked as a mechanic in a car company, before applying as a soldier.

The elder Rosala said it was some of his son’s students, most of them former servicemen, who convinced him to join the military.

“He asked my permission saying he wants to be soldier, but I discouraged him. I told him there are only two things that could happen to you, either you live or you die. But he was persistent. There was nothing we could do about it. He is old enough to decide for himself,” the elder Rosala said.

For her part, Morales’ wife Izah, 31, said she had a premonition.

A few days before the encounter in Misamis Oriental, Izah said she dreamed about his death.

“I dreamed he died, but I just brushed it off because he was still alive then. I even told him about it. Three days later, he was dead,” she said in an interview.

A soldier for 10 years assigned at the 58th Infantry Battalion, Izah said Marzon was a loving husband and a caring father to their two young children.

“He was never strict but always affectionate to our kids. They were his weakness,” she said, adding that when he’s at home he never talked about his work.

“When he’s with us, his focus is on his family. We never discussed work,” she added. – With Jaime Laude, Edith Regalado, Roel Pareño