By
Villamor Visaya, Jr
CAUAYAN
CITY -- The families of two soldiers who were killed in the deadly church
blasts in Jolo, Sulu last Sunday, cried for justice as the Philippine
flag-draped coffins of the victims arrived at the Cauayan airport here on board
a C-130 plane, Tuesday afternoon.
The
remains of Army Sgt. Mark Des Simbre of San Isidro, Isabela and Corporal John
Mangawit of Tanudan, Kalinga were met with arrival honors by their colleagues
and were later brought to the 5th Infantry Division for necrological services
before they would be brought to their hometowns on Wednesday.
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FALLEN 'HERO'. The coffin bearing the
remains of one of the two soldiers killed in last Sunday's church blast in Jolo
-- identified as Sgt. Mark Dres Simbre and Cpl. John Mangawit -- is carried by
their fellow soldiers upon arrival in Cauayan City from Zamboanga City, January
29, 2019 . (Photo by Villamor Visaya Jr.)
“It pains to see my husband in a coffin but I cannot bring him back to life anymore. He is a hero for the country,” Simbre’s wife, Rosemarie, said as she was comforted by her relatives.
Mangawit’s
coffin was also met by some his relatives from Kalinga while his wife was still
on her way to the military camp in Gamu after staying in Abra.
Major
Gen. Perfecto Rimando, 5th Infantry Division commander, described the slain
soldiers as “heroes who lost their lives and limbs” in the quest for peace.
“We
honor their service in the military as exemplary for sacrificing their lives
for service,” he added.
Simbre
and Mangawit were among the 22 people killed and more or less 100 others
wounded in the bomb blasts.
