Have you met a hero?

The order to stand down was given. For strict compliance. The Army Commander of the 6th Scout Ranger Company was instructed to keep his unit inside their camp in the town of Carmen, North Cotabato. However, along with 14 of his men, Capt. Robert Edward Lucero moved and decided to serve as blocking force against more than 400 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters who were going to attack the community. By maneuvering forward directly in harm’s way, they had embarked on a suicidal mission to save the civilians from sure death. They geared for a possible arrival of reinforcements.

After more than nine hours of heavy exchanges of firepower, the outnumbered army elite unit defeated the rebels. The secessionists’ leader, a certain “Kumander Mangyan,” was killed while they withdrew from the battle area. Unfortunately, while directing the rescue of his wounded soldiers, Capt. Lucero was mortally hit by a sniper. He was the first casualty of Philippine Military Class of 1987. He was also the 1st recipient of the Medal of Valor in our class. The recognition was posthumously rewarded. He is our first hero.

The movie-like story really happened. Similar feats of courage and “exemplary bravery above and beyond the call of duty” were displayed by two more of our classmates who were also honored with this medal when they were still alive. One is Col. Custodio “Toto” Parcon who was instrumental in saving the kidnap victim, Anthony Biel, from the dreaded Abu Sayyaf in 1994. The other is General Cirilito Sobejana who became the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, a great source of pride for us.

In our long military history, there were less than 50 recipients of this medal. Three belong to the Hinirangs.

Need to honor our heroes

I had the privilege of enjoying my formal dinner last Saturday in Batangas with another living hero after a solemn ceremony where I stood as godfather to the daughter of my close colleague and friend, Major Rudy Gonzales. With us too was former Army Captain Rommel Salamanca. The night’s celebration served as a mini reunion amongst few classmates from the Philippine Military Academy. So, for my column today, please allow me the liberty to render my tribute to our PMA Hinirang Class of 1987 because this month, everyone in our class already finished the long tour of duty for the country.

The other guests that were there were clueless on the deep relationships and common experiences that we shared, starting from the days when we were cadets in Baguio City. The laughter and banter were quietly exchanged though much of the anecdotes and stories were already heard and recycled many times over. We had fun. We avoided touching on sensitive topics such as the assassination of one of our favorite classmates, the late Col. John Campos, who’s with me in Echo Company when we were still studying. Maybe in the future, he will be given justice.

Sitting beside me was a well-respected Army commander who led several successful battles against the New People’s Army. He was mortally wounded in one of those bloody skirmishes. He survived the challenges of combat and became one of our three-star generals when he headed the Central Command of the Philippine Army based in the Visayas. The other visitors had no idea that I was sitting next to a bemedaled officer who also served in Timor Leste under the flag of the United Nations. We couldn’t stop laughing because of his decision to stop smoking to scrape and save money from his UN allowance.

The ‘Ruling Class’ during the pandemic served well

Hopefully not to sound self-serving, the major branches of service were managed professionally by our classmates. General Guillor Eleazar and General Debold Sinas instilled discipline to the more than 220,000 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). I am personally wishing that Guillor will be given the rare chance to serve as a senator of our Republic. He, along with another classmate of ours, Atty. Alex Lacson, deserve to be amongst our legislators. They will contribute to crafting the necessary laws that will benefit our enforcement infrastructure. Gullor graduated cum laude and ranked number four in the graduating class.

Handling the Philippine Navy as the Flag Officer in Command was Rear Admiral Giovanni Bacordo.The last time I met him was in Zamboanga when I was on my way to do a field inspection in Sulu in 2016 when he was stationed in the city as Task Force Zamboanga Commander. That time too, the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard was Admiral George Ursabia, my groupmate when we were still applying to enter PMA.

Soldiers must not just fade away

The last members of our class still in service, Lt. General Bong Dickson and Lt. General Jojo Vera Cruz, also retired after long-years of selfless and risky work. I have always sought their help whenever a legitimate assistance was needed for some troubled citizens who needed police services.

More than 30 years ago, we reported to PMA with a vague idea what was really in store for us. We didn’t know what serving the country exactly means. But we were ready to give even the most extreme sacrifice for the welfare of our people. Many amongst our classmates, including myself, tread diverse paths for the same goal. Some of us became heroes along the way. Many fell along the way. And I am proud to have met them and to be identified with the same band of brothers.

Our country still needs our humble efforts. We can’t just fade away and fully retire. In countless patriotic ways, we must never stop serving the motherland.