Families of two slain Marines proud of their sons’ heroism

While still struggling to accept their deaths, the families of two of the 13 Marines killed in Marawi City last Friday said they are proud of the soldiers' courage and heroism.

The family of 1st Lieutenant John Frederick Savellano, who led the recovery of millions in cash and checks from a Maute group stronghold, said they are blessed to learn the soldier and his team surrendered the full amount they recovered.

A report by GMA News' Steve Dailisan on 24 Oras on Monday quoted Savellano's sister, Kristine, as saying Savellano's parents are particularly proud of their son.

"Sobrang proud sila Mama with what he has done. The fact na nakuha nila yung pera and every single cent was returned, and was surrendered, sobrang proud sila Mama. It was like a blessing sa heart nila Mama," Kristine said.

Savellano's unit found P79 million in cash and checks from a stronghold of the ISIS-inspired terrorists in Barangay Mapandi in Marawi City while conducting house-to-house clearing operations last week.

Savellano's brother, Dian, said the slain soldier's fiancee, also a member of the Marines, has been with the family during their time of grief.

"Yung sister-in-law kasi namin is, she’s with us. We comfort each other. Kung nasaan ka man ngayon, sana patuloy mo kaming tingnan, protektahan," Dian said.

Before he joined the military, Private First Class Eddie Cardona Jr. would often get arrested by policemen because of his pedicab.

But Cardona vowed to help his family rise from poverty, the report added, and so he became a Marine.

His mother, Benilda, said at first she first refused to believe that her son was dead; she had talked to him hours before the deadly firefight in Barangay Lilod Madaya that took his life.

"Nag-message pa nga siya ng 7:58 ng umaga. Ang dami na [nagsasabi] sa akin ng condolence. Sabi ko bakit condolence, e hindi ko pa naman [nalalaman] na patay na talaga siya," Benilda said.

Cardona's father Eddie Sr. said he is proud of his son.

"Proud ako sa kanya dahil matapang siya. Mabait siya. Anak bilib ako sa’yo anak, ikaw ang anak ko talaga na, mahal na mahal kita. Tanggap ko na yung ano niya, yung pagkamatay niya dahil pinaglaban niya yung bayan natin," the elder Cardona said.

Savellano and Cardona were among the 13 Marines who were killed during a 16-hour firefight against the Maute group on Friday.

The remains of eight of the 13 soldiers arrived in Metro Manila on Sunday and were brought to the Philippine Marines headquarters in Taguig City.

The report said the public viewing of the Marines' remains will last until either Wednesday or Thursday before they are brought to their home provinces.

A total of 58 military and police personnel have been killed in Marawi since the skirmishes between government forces and the Maute group broke out in May 23. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/BM, GMA News