Soldier killed while rescuing wounded comrades in Marawi

Pfc. Gener Tinangag was able to pull  two of his wounded comrades in Marawi City out of the line of fire and into safety, but on his attempt to save another one, he was shot dead by members of the terrorist Maute group.

Because of his heroism, Tinangag is likely to posthumously receive the Medal of Valor, the highest military honor, according to a report by GMA News' Steve Dailisan on 24 Oras on Tuesday.

"Medal of valor daw na one of the highest award for military men," Tinangag's uncle, Genesis Tiangilan, said. "Hopefully, ma-approve naman 'yan kasi malaking bagay iyan to give inspiration to our young generation." 

But the medal will do nothing to bring Tinangag, who had only been in active military service for a year, back to his two-year-old child and his fiancee.

Neither will such award aid the family of Cpl. Raymond Paracuellas, a trained demolitionist and rope master killed while making tunnels for other soldiers on June 6, the report said. Paracuellas left behind a one-year-old child currently in a hospital due to heart and kidney problems.

His father, Cesar Paracuellas, was stricken with rage for the death of his son, described by his relatives as a helpful son and a loving family man.

"Sana maubos na silang lahat," the elder Paracuellas said. "Andaming taong inosente nalagas, pati sundalo."

Corporal Joebert Cofino's parents also grieved the loss of their son, a seven-year veteran of the Philippine Marines, after his remains were brought back to Zamboanga City to his three siblings and parents whom he helped through his income as a soldier.

"Mahirap din naman po mawalan ng anak. Wala pong kapalit yung anak ko," Cofino's mother said.

Meanwhile, the classmates of 1Lt. Raymund Abad and PFC Marvin Russel Gomez had to stay strong for the soldiers' families as they processed their grief.

Abad's colleagues joined in his family's celebration of the soldier's 32nd birthday by giving their last signs of respect to one of the only 13 marines who graduated from their class.

"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," 1Lt. Marlon Ladrido said.

Gomez' friends on the other hand recalled why he chose to be a soldier in the first place.

"Gusto niya talaga magsundalo sir, at para sa mama kasi natitira na lang mama niya kasi namatay niya rin yung papa niya," Pfc Arnesto Flores said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News