Negros Occidental mourns soldier killed by Maute

LANAO DEL SUR, Philippines — The poor parents of Private 1st Class Ramonito Occeña III never thought the P5,000 financial assistance he sent them on July 15 from Marawi City would be his last.

Occeña, a member of a Scout Ranger unit in the Philippine Army, was killed on July 25 in a fierce gunfight with Maute terrorists in Marawi City

He was born and raised in Barangay Manlucahoc in Sipalay City in Negros Occidental.

He perished just a month after he was wounded in an encounter in another barangay in Marawi City, not too distant from the spot where he was killed while exchanging shots with terrorists last Sunday.

His superiors told The STAR he was not even obliged to immediately return to Marawi City after his discharge from the hospital.

Against the advice of senior officers, Occeña rejoined his companions in conflict-torn Marawi City right after his recuperation to help them fight outcast violent religious extremists that laid siege to strategic areas there.

Relatives told The STAR on Friday that Occeña, most known to them as “Bon-Bon,” was a jolly person who shared half of his monthly pay to his poor parents, Ramonito, Jr. and Belinda, since he got enlisted into the Philippine Army.

Occeña last remitted to them P5,000 on July 15 through a money courier outfit in Iligan City, about 45 minutes via overland travel from Marawi City.

The remittance transaction was facilitated by a companion of Occeña, Pfc. Allan Benbinuto, who was out then on a marketing mission for their unit.

“I’m keeping the transaction receipt for the amount he last sent us as a testament of his goodness to his family,” Belinda, his grieving mother, said on Friday.

The father of Occeña is a low-income farmer who augments his earnings by working as laborer in private coconut farms in Barangay Manlucahoc.

He also works as daily paid carpenter when there are carpentry jobs in houses of neighbors.

Relatives said Occeña was also kind to his older sisters, Joy Ann and Jovel, whose needs he helped provide.

For Joy Ann and Jovel, they lost a benefactor whom they will remember for his kindness and good sense of humor.

Angelie Silverio Dellera, a long-time friend of the Occeña siblings, said she has good memories of their childhood together as neighbors.

“Bon-Bon was a good person. He cracked good jokes when we were together. He was a funny person,” Dellera said.

Dellera said she and the Occeñas went separate ways when they studied in different high school and tertiary institutions.

“The friendship remained. We remained very good friends. In a typical provincial Visayan barrio, people are like related to each other by blood,” Dellera said.

The cadaver of Occeña arrived in Barangay Manlucahoc from Marawi City only last Tuesday.

Residents of Barangay Manlucahoc are now preparing a hero’s burial for a fallen son, whose heroic death in keeping with his oath to serve the nation as a soldier is now talk of the town.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Western Mindanao Command said he will recommend the promotion of Occeña to the rank of corporal as a posthumous recognition of his dedication to military service.

“His living companions in the military are proud of him and are honored with his supreme sacrifice for the nation’s good,” Galvez said.