The remains of a slain Army officer from Bais City, Negros Oriental was flown here Thursday from Mindanao by a Philippine Air Force plane.
The body of 2Lt. MacGlen Abuyabor, 28 years old, single, was given full military honors by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Negros Island Geographical Battalion at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport.
Abuyador was killed by sniper fire early Wednesday morning while fighting terrorists from the Maute group in Marawi City.
Abuyador’s parents, families and friends; Atty. Lloyd Elmaco, the Bais City Legal Officer; Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and Bantay Bayanihan sa Kapayapaan local chapter head Marietta Jambora, were present during the ceremony.
In an interview, Police Officer 1 Jaykel Abuyabor, the younger brother of the slain soldier, disclosed that MacGlen visited them just last week in Bais City.
MacGlen had returned from Marawi City to work on his promotion but was redeployed to the city, the younger brother said.
The soldier’s last message to him when they accompanied him to the bus stop was to take care of their parents and not to leave them alone, said PO1 Abuyabor.
His last text message, according to the brother, was to send roses this Saturday to a girl in Dumaguete City that 2Lt. Abuyabor appeared to have interest in, he added.
The police officer said he would still send the flowers to the girl this Saturday.
According to him, the family first knew on Wednesday through social media that 2Lt. Abuyabor was wounded but later the classmates called him and somebody from G-1 of the Philippine Army also called to confirm that he had died.
2Lt. Abuyabor was assigned to the Light Ranger Regiment of the SOCOM (Special Operations Command), his brother said.
Initial reports reaching the family said the soldier was hit by sniper fire twice on the right side of his body around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday somewhere in Marawi City, but his body was extricated several hours later due to the presence of terrorist snipers.
Evangeline and Alex, Abuyabor’s parents, cannot accept the death of their middle child, saying he was too young to die. Evangeline kept on saying it hurts to lose his son, who was kind and generous.
The mother, in between sobs, said it was not fair that many soldiers got killed by these terrorists.
She appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to do all what it takes to finally end the crisis in Marawi City otherwise there would be more soldiers getting killed.
“Mahal na Presidente, bigyan nyo po ng hustiya ang pagkamatay ng anak kong si MacGlen” (Dear Mr. President, please give justice to the death of my son, MacGlen),” the mother appealed.
To the Maute group, she said they did not have the heart and were ruthless in killing his son.
2Lt. Abuyabor has been in the Army for three years and had graduated cum laude with a degree in business administration at the Negros Oriental State University in Bais City.
Meanwhile, Atty. Elmaco assured that the Bais City local government unit will be giving financial assistance to the bereaved family.
The slain Army soldier will be buried in about three days, said the younger brother, because they could not bear seeing him in a coffin. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
Photo credit: philnews.ph
