ZAMBOANGA
CITY (March 16, 2018) - Staff Sergeant Antonino Basa is one of the soldiers who got wounded in
the encounter in Sulu last March 13, 2018 (Tuesday), military official said.
Western
Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay said that it was his
fifth time to get wounded in a clash, the first in Basilan, second to third in
during the Marawi siege and the latest in Sulu during last Tuesday’s attempt of
the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion to rescue kidnap victims who were with the Abu
Sayyaf Group in Brgy Panglahayan, Patikul, Sulu.
“We were
tipped by locals of the location of about 30 Abu Sayyaf Group members under
Radulan Sahiron and sub-leaders Julie Ekit, Amlon Abtahi, and a certain Amah
Asam who were accordingly harboring in an area in Patikul,” said Lieutenant
Colonel Marlo Jomalesa, Battalion Commander of the 5th SRBn.
“The 14th
Company where SSg Basa belong was our main effort (lead company), and they were
to hit the target slowly so that they can get closer and be able to see the
enemy and the possible location of the hostages.”
By dawn
break last Tuesday, the Rangers were already crawling towards their objective. Due
to the difficulty of the terrain, they were able to come close to 20 meters to
the enemy by noon time, said Cpt Petinglay
“Nakita na naming
ang kalaban nung tanghali subalit maingat na maingat kami sapagkat iniisip naming
ang kalagayan ng mga hostages,” said Cpt Jay Maravillo, Company Commander of
the 14th Scout Ranger Company.
“Nung Makita
nila SSg Basana di na pwedeng lumapit pa, at nasiguro naming na walang hostage
na nakikita, nagkaron na agad ng putukan.”
Cpt
Petinglay further said that SSg Basa was the team leader of his 6 other men who
bravely crawled near the position of the enemy. He and five others got wounded
after the whole afternoon of firefight. He was hit in the back portion of his
head and was immediately evacuated to one of the hospitals in Zamboanga City
with another wounded companion.
The four
others who gained minor wounds stayed with the military hospital in Jolo, Sulu.
At 10am
Thursday (March 15), Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr., Commander
Western Mindanao Command, visited SSg Basa who accorded the general with a
salute despite his difficulty to move.
“I am
emotional and so touched by his gesture to salute me even if he is still
incapable of moving his hand and body,” said LtGen Galvez.
“It only
shows that even in his subconscious he still practiced the highest sense of
honor, obedience and respect to his superiors and to the flag.”
“I have
given orders for my staff to work for the revival of his Medal for Valor award
recommendation and for the other awards that are due to this battle tested
brave soldier.”
“The wounds
he gained from combat did not stop his aggressiveness and his love for country
to continue fighting the terrorists, despite his four other near death
experiences,” added LtGen Galvez. Basa’s wife who just gave birth is due to fly
to Zamboanga to see his husband.
Their
marriage is blessed with three children.
His company
was just recently reassigned to Sulu to augment the forces going after the Abu
Sayyaf.
His unit
was one of the many units deployed in Marawi during the five month long battle
to liberate the city from terrorists.
“Bilib kaming
lahat kay SSg Basa, napakatapang at napakagaling nya.
Di ko makalimutan
yung isang nangyari sa Marawi na may nagsabi sa kanya na merong explosive sa kanilang
dadaanan, at dinapaan nya ito para isalba ang buhay ng mga kasamahan, pero swerte
lang na hindi pumutok,” said Cpt Maravilla.
One of the
companions of Basa also said that in two instances that the soldier was hit by
an IED shrapnel in Marawi, he just asked to be injected with the anti- tetanus
vaccine, after a few days, he volunteered to fight again with his men.
“Madaming sumusunod
sa kanya kapag sya na ang nag le-lead ng tropa. Talagang nangunguna, at walang takot.
Lagi nya sinasabi nakailangan ako ng tropa ko.”
Also in the
same hospital, LtGen Galvez visited Private First Class Vladimir Ramos, a
marine who got wounded in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf in Panamao, Sulu
last February 11.
Like the
battalion of Basa, the unit of Ramos, the 16th Marine Company was also deployed
to liberate Marawi City last year.
Basa who is
due to wed his long time girlfriend this June, fought with death for 16 days in
the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital after sustaining a gun shot wound in
the head.
“Ang pagmamahal
nya sa kanyang mapapangasawa at ang kagustuhan nyang matuloy ang kasal nila ang
nagbigay sa kanyang lakas na lumaban at patuloy na mabuhay,” said Mrs Susan
Ramos, the mother of Vladimir.
“Gusto nya na
matuloy ang kasal nila kaya kahit na alam nya na parang imposible, lumaban sya
at salamat sa Diyos, maayos na ang kalagayan nya ngayon.”
PFC Ramos
is one of the Order of LapuLapu rank of Kampilan awardees last Saturday during
the visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Zamboanga City.
It was his
mother who received the award on his behalf during the ceremony.
“I salute these
soldiers for their bravery not only in combat but also while fighting in the
hospital for their lives.
Truly, they
are our modern heroes of today, they are willing to die for our country and for
the people,” said LtGen Galvez.
“I give my
highest commendations to them.
We will
certainly work for the appropriate awards that are due to them.”
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