BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – The Ilonggo Philippine Marine officer killed in an encounter between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu last week has returned home.
Tributes kept pouring in for 1Lt. Roger Flores of Brgy. Tanza Bonifacio, City Proper.
“Thank you gid for the sacrifice, p’re! Up to your dying breath, you lived your ideals…sacrificing everything for our motherland,” wrote colleague JM Alabe Mejorada (Force Reconnaissance Company) at centralphilippineuniversity.org.
Flores took Engineering at Central Philippine University (CPU) before entering the Philippine Military Academy.
He graduated from the country’s premier military school in 2009 – the No. 3 in his class.
Flores’ body was flown to Iloilo City by an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Fokker F27 plane.
At the Iloilo Airport, he was fetched by his grieving mother Remia, other family members, relatives and friends.
“I met him when I was a congressman and he was a senator of the CPU Republic. He encouraged me to apply for the Ayala Young Leaders as he had been part of it. Every time we met, he never failed to encourage me to excel in extracurricular activities,” recalled Tzietel Geraldine Alquisada, a schoolmate at CPU.
From the Iloilo Airport, Flores was brought to the Somo Funeral Homes.
Arrangements were being made that a wake be held at the gym of Brgy. Tanza Bonifacio.
“He wanted to be better, without compromising what was right. Integrity despite challenging circumstances. Dignity despite being less privileged, and hum(ility) despite his accomplishments,” said Christine Cayabyab, a friend.
According to the AFP, government troops were approaching a known Abu Sayyaf lair when fighting broke out in Patikul, Sulu last week.
The Islamic militants were the first to fire on the soldiers, killing Flores first.
Flores was one of seven casualties from the government troops. Thirteen other soldiers were wounded.
A father of one of Flores’ mistah gave a heartfelt message to the slain officer.
“You were like a son to me and my family…you were a close mistah to my son, 1Lt. Abner Trust Nacion of the 15th Strike Wing, Philippine Air Force,” wrote Adolfo Tac-An Nacion at centralphilippineuniversity.org.
1Lt. Abner Trust Nacion went missing for a year when he and his pilot in command crashed off Palawan on June 23, 2013. His body was recovered only this June 6.
“Like our son Abner, we will miss you so much. Your profession was more than a choice; it was a calling which our Almighty God assigned to you…You lived a life that was full and meaningful and you died not in vain for our Filipino people…There is nothing that we could ask more from you…My big, snappy salute,” wrote Adolfo Tac-An Nacion.
A former instructor of Flores in the Reserve Officers Training Corps, CPU, also paid tribute to Flores. Benson Kenneth Yap wrote: “God bless the family of 1Lt. Flores. The country owes him and his loved ones great gratitude! Our deepest sympathy!”
He added: “I ask our fellow Centralians to include in your prayers those who lay their lives for others – servicemen in the military, police, fire / rescue / medical services, disaster management, etc).”/PN
