Basilan ambush survivor says six soldiers fought valiantly before they died

The remains of one of the soldiers killed in an ambush by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan on November 2 arrived at Villamor Air Base Tuesday evening.

 

Relatives of 2Lt. Jun Corpuz, 22, were emotional as they saw the flag-draped coffin bearing their loved one, radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported.

 

Photos posted by dzBB's Ravelo showed the casket bearing Corpuz's remains being carried by soldiers.

Mga labi ni 2Lt Jun Corpuz nasa Villamor Airbase na, buhos ang emosyon ng mga magulang at kapatid . | @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/dkCWGgZanL

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) Nobyembre 4, 2014
 

 

A separate photo tweeted by GMA News' Ian Cruz showed Corpuz's parents Elizabeth and Cresencio holding back their emotions.

Pighati nina Elizabeth at Crisencio Corpuz, lalong sumidhi nang dumating ang mga labi ng anak na si 2Lt Jun Corpuz pic.twitter.com/6bRVNf7xSi

— Ian Cruz (@_iancruz) Nobyembre 4, 2014
 

 

Earlier Tuesday, the military held departure honors for the six in Zamboanga City before their remains were flown to their respective home provinces.

 

Corpuz and his five fellow soldiers fought valiantly and would be missed, one of their fellow soldiers told GMA News' Jun Veneracion on "24 Oras."

 

Private First Class Marvin Paragoso said he could have been among the fatalities. He suffered a wound in his foot in the incident.

 

"Masakit kasi sa loob ko nangyari... Kaibigan ko sila. Masakit sa dibdib ko. Kasama ko sila sa katatawanan, sa biruan, sa inuman, sa hirap at ginhawa," he said.

 

Paragoso recalled he and his colleagues were conducting road security when the Abu Sayyaf fired on them, using high-powered weapons including an M-203 grenade and an improvised explosive device.

 

"May namatay kasi ang kalaban marami kesa sa amin. Wala kaming kalaban-laban. At may nilagay pa sila roon na IED sumabog. Kaya ang casualty namin na ano, wasak ang katawan niya," he said.

 

Paragas said it was the first time Corpuz joined them on road security. He recalled Corpuz fighting until the end.

 

He said that although Corpuz was seriously wounded, "lumaban pa rin siya. Nagpaputok din siya, hanggang sa natamaan din siya."

 

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines started Tuesday its investigation into the ambush.

 

"It's actually an inquiry on what happened... so it won't happen again. You cannot fault these dead soldiers," said Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, commander of Joint Task Force ZamBaSulTa. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News