AFP remembers fallen soldiers, cops in Marawi siege for All Souls’ Day

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is commemorating All Souls' Day this year by remembering their comrades and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who sacrificed their own lives to liberate Marawi City from terrorist groups.

In a statement on Tuesday, the AFP said All Souls' Day would be more significant this year for the families of the 158 AFP and seven PNP personnel who died in the five-month long Marawi siege.

"There were many stories of gallantry and heroism that we witnessed in this conflict that showed the true courage and dedication of our troops to protect the lives of not only the Filipino people and their loved ones, but even their comrades," the AFP said.

For one, Captain Rommel Sandoval, company commander of the 11th Scout Ranger Company of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command, vowed to bring his men back to their families alive, even if it meant his own death.

The AFP narrated that during a mission to retake a five-storey building in the strife-torn city, one of Sandoval's men sustained wounds and was caught in crossfire.

Without hesitation, Sandoval rushed back to get the soldier and bring him to safety, but he ended up being fatally hit by the enemy.

"Until his last breath, Sandoval kept his promise to keep his men alive. Using his body, he covered the soldier from the overwhelming enemy fire preventing the bullets from further injuring his troop," the AFP said.

Sandoval was survived by his wife who was supposed to go on a vacation abroad with her husband once he returned, the AFP said. Instead, she will visit his fallen husband at the Libingan ng mga Bayani this Undas.

Aside from Sandoval, the AFP also honored the life of 2nd Lt. Harold Mark Juan of the Army’s Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), Special Operations Command.

Juan was already wounded in action, the AFP said, but decided to go back to the main battle area to continue fighting it out with terrorists.

This, until Juan was killed by sniper fire, leaving behind his fiancee, whom he would've married once he had gone back from Marawi City.

These are just a few of the stories of heroism that soldiers have displayed while performing their duty to serve the people and secure the land, the AFP said.

"We would commemorate their sacrifices and honor each of our fallen heroes who fought not only in Marawi, but in various places in the country, this All Souls Day," it added.

On October 17, President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City free from terrorists following the death of terror leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute a day before. — Erwin Colcol/MDM, GMA News