Families, friends remember servicemen killed in Marawi

PFC Gener Tinangag had been a marine for just a year.

According to Tinangag's fiance, Jasmin Escobido, he would always try to make up for being away on duty by being extra caring every time he was home.

"Kung hindi ko magagawang magluto, siya po ang nagluluto," recounted Escobido during Tuesday's episode of GMA 7 news program "24 Oras".

"Kaya ang laking kawalan sa akin, eh. Ang bait niya," she added tearfully.

Tinangag's family was told that he could possibly be awarded the country's highest military honor, the Medal of Valor, because he had pulled two of his fellow marines to safety while under fire in Marawi City.

Tinangag was killed while trying to rescue a third marine.

"Kaya sabi ko sa kanya, 'Salamat po, sir.' Hopefully, ma-approve naman 'yan (ang Medal of Valor) kasi malaking bagay iyan to give inspiration to our young generation," said Tinangag's uncle, Genesis Tiangilan.

Classmates

It was supposed to be 1st Lt. Raymund Abad's 32nd birthday last Monday. But he was killed in Marawi while performing his duties as a Marine officer.

Abad's classmates were there at his wake, to honor him one last time.

"Sa mga hindi nakakakilala sa classmate namin, kay Lt. Abad, gusto namin maalala siya sa dedikasyon na ipinakita niya sa trabaho niya, sa serbisyo niya," said 1st Lt. Marlon Ladrido.

A classmate also had fond thoughts for another Marawi fatality - PFC Marvin Russel.

Russel and PFC Arnesto Flores went through boot camp together, only parting company after they were  assigned to different commands.

"Gusto niya talaga magsundalo sir. At para sa mama [niya] kasi natitira na lang mama niya. Kasi namatay na rin yung papa niya," explained an upset Flores.

Sons

Army rope master and demolitionist Cpl. Reymond Paracuelles was killed on June 6 while he was blowing holes through walls and buildings. His fellow soldiers would go through these openings to out-maneuver Maute gunmen in the urban fighting.

"Sana maubos na silang (Maute group) lahat," Paracuelles' father, Cesar, said angrily at his son's wake at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. "Andaming taong inosente nalagas, pati sundalo!"

Reymond's wife remembers him as a loving husband and father. They have a one-year-old child, who unfortunately was in the hospital because of kidney and heart ailments.

Their youngest, meanwhile, died from miscarriage last March.

In another wake in Zamboanga City, Cpl. Joebert Cofino's parents grieved the loss of their son, a seven-year veteran of the Philippine Marine Corps.

Joebert was the eldest of four siblings, and was the family's breadwinner given that his father was an invalid.

"Mahirap din naman po mawalan ng anak. Wala pong kapalit yung anak ko," grieved Cofino's mother, Aida. — DVM/KG/ALG, GMA News