Extra Ordinary Courage, another Marawi Hero got wounded in Sulu for the 5th time

By Jong Cadion

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.”