Fallen soldiers sent home, receive military honors

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) rendered military honors to the three members of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) who died in the recent clash with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Sunday.

Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd IBde commander, led the send-off ceremony for the remains of the three fallen soldiers at Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City on Tuesday.

The bodies of 2nd Lieutenant Ralf Amante Abibico and Private First Class Carl Venice Bustamante were sent via Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-295 cargo plane to Clark International Airport, and General Santos International Airport, respectively.

Abibico is a native of Bauko, Mt. Province while Bustamante’s hometown is in Surallah, South Cotabato.

The remains of Corporal Joel Nobleza was sent off via a PAF UH-1H helicopter to the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) headquarters in Jamindan, Capiz, before it will be brought to his house in the province.

“In honor of their sacrifice for the nation, we assure that all the processing of their benefits will be taken cared of and all necessary assistance will be extended to their families,” Pasaporte said.

“On behalf of the 303rd Infantry Brigade and the whole Philippine Army, we salute you,” he added.

Pasaporte said the three fallen heroes died while protecting the people from the NPA amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Their four colleagues were wounded in the encounter.

He said that the soldiers will continue with their community security patrol in Himamaylan City and in the Negros Island in order to allow the unhampered and swift distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to affected COVID-19 families in the region and for the protection of every Negrense.