3 widows of 'Marawi Heroes' join the military

Three women, widows of soldiers who died during the siege in Marawi City, finished the candidate soldier course and are now considered enlisted military personnel.

Private Grace Allaga the widow of Corporal Ardnie Allaga, who is from the 10th Infantry Battalion; and Private Merzie Rogador the widow of Private First Class Eldon Rogador who belonged to the 51st Infantry Battalion. PHOTO BY AUDE HAMPONG

Private Grace Allaga, Private Merzie Rogador, and Private Christine Mary Montero joined the Closing and Entrustment of Firearms Ceremony conducted by the First Infantry (Tabak) Division of the Philippine Army on Wednesday afternoon.

Private Christine Mary Montero is the widow of Corporal Marjone Montero who also belonged to the 51st Infantry Battalion. PHOTO BY AUDE HAMPONG

Private Allaga is the widow of Corporal Ardnie Allaga, who is from the 10th Infantry Battalion; Private Rogador is the widow of Private First Class Eldon Rogador who belonged to the 51st Infantry Battalion, while Private Montero is the widow of Corporal Marjone Montero who also belonged to the 51st Infantry Battalion.

The soldiers were posthumously given awards and feted as "Marawi Heroes."

The women, who underwent and finished the four-month candidate soldier course conducted by the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, are among the 749 new soldiers under the Philippine Army.

The women were emotional after attending the ceremony, as they shared that they were not yet able to move on from losing their husbands in the armed conflict between government troops and the terrorist Maute Group in Marawi City in 2017.

They joined the military to continue the work of their husbands, that is, to serve the country. — Aude Hampong/BAP, GMA News