US soldier is 6th Fil-Am to die in Iraq

Another Filipino-American soldier has died in Iraq, the sixth since the United States invaded the Middle East country in 2003. US Army Corporal Christopher Rose, 21, was killed in Baghdad last June 29 from injuries he sustained from an improvised explosive device, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. “We honor your son’s bravery and commitment in helping secure a free, stable and democratic Iraq. Christopher represented the best of the Filipino-American---freedom-loving independent and goal-oriented,: Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said in his letter to Rose’s family sent through his sister Suzette in San Francisco, California. Rose will be buried on Wednesday, July 12, with full military honors at the San Bruno cemetery in California. Born of a Filipino father from Aklan and a Mexican mother, Rose is the youngest of three children and the only son. The family resides in San Francisco. He belonged to the US’ 4th Infantry Division with headquarters at Fort Hood Texas. Before Rose’s death, five other Filipino-Americans were killed in Iraq. They were: US Army Specialist Peter Navarro (December 13, 2005) Sergeant Myla Maravillosa (December 24, 2005), Chief Warrant Officer Ruel Garcia (January 16, 2006), Marine Private Lewis Thomas Duquez Calapini (January 23, 2006) and Army Staff Sgt. Metodio Bandonill (April 24, 2006). Manila continues to impose a travel ban to Iraq following the abduction of a Filipino truck driver in 2004 who was subsequently released after the alleged payment of ransom. However, thousands of Filipinos managed to enter Iraq illegally despite the ban. This has prompted Manila to request countries bordering Iraq not to allow Filipinos, particularly the drivers, to cross their respective borders. It is believed there are about 6,000 Filipinos working in Iraq. -GMANews.TV