BCDA Collective | Issue 1 2018

More documents

Recommendations

Info

HEROES Photo: PCOO No regrets for Marawi soldier who almost went blind 18 COLLECTIVE In "Heroes," BCDA tells the stories of ordinary Filipino soldiers doing extraordinary duties for love of country. By KATHRINA CHARMAINE ALVAREZ OOn February 13, 2018, Private First Class Romeo Esperida Jr. was awarded the Order of Lapu- Lapu with the Rank of Kampilan by President Rodrigo Duterte in a ceremony in Malacaňang. Dressed in full military gear, Esperida gave his snappiest salute to his commander-in-chief. Seeing the photo, it’s a bit difficult to imagine that just eight months ago, the 27-year-old soldier was fighting for his life in the battleground of Marawi City. Marawi was declared “liberated” in October 2017 by the President after months of fighting between the Maute Group terrorists and government troops.
HEROES Esperida, a member of the 63rd Company of the Marine Special Operations Group, suffered severe injuries in a firefight with Maute Group militants on June 9, 2017, wherein 13 of his comrades died. A newspaper report on the incident said Esperida was “the most injured among the 40 troops wounded in the clash.” Esperida suffered serious injuries from a mortar shrapnel which tore through his leg, arm, groin, and right eye. Recalling what transpired, Esperida said he felt that he only had a 50 percent chance of surviving. “Paunti-unti, nagba-blackout na ako. Yung tropa, grabe sampal sakin kasi alam na natutulog na’ko…Hanggang sa pag-evacuate sa’min, binibira kami ng ISIS.” “Nag-decide yung officers na pa-withdraw na kami kasi yung kalaban dumidikit na. Halos talagang pwersahan na yung ginagawa ng Maute ISIS fighters,” he said. Esperida was one of the 52 soldiers granted hospitalization assistance by BCDA in 2017. An initial fund of P5 million was set up in honor of the heroism and bravery of the troops who fought for the liberation of Marawi City. The fund allowed injured troops to access medical treatments at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. Photo: PCOO Asked if he regrets signing up for a task that almost cost him his life, Esperida said without hesitation: “Wala.” Esperida was initially brought to Iligan and Cagayan de Oro before he was transferred to the V. Luna General Hospital in Quezon City. He said he was informed of the BCDA fund for wounded Marawi soldiers, allowing him to have his right eye operated on at St. Luke’s in Taguig City. “Okay na rin yung pakiramdam ko ngayon… Parang normal na,” Esperida told BCDA in May. Asked if he regrets signing up for a task that almost cost him his life, Esperida said without hesitation: “Wala.” The BCDA is planning to make the P5-million allocation a revolving fund for troops who cannot receive the needed medical care in military hospitals due to lack of facilities and doctors. COLLECTIVE 19
Page 2 and 3: COLLECTIVE is a quarterly publicati
Page 4 and 5: Every day, we hear horror stories o
Page 6 and 7: COM, points out a unique factor of
Page 8 and 9: Clark International Airport A S H O
Page 10 and 11: NEWS materials will be used in cons
Page 12 and 13: NEWS “ Solid Backbone for PH Grow
Page 14 and 15: NEWS AFP gets record-high share fro
Page 16 and 17: PROFILES Fast Talk with the Directo
Page 20 and 21: TRAVEL Unwind in Thunderbird Resort
Page 22 and 23: LOCATORS V Vanessa Ada Cruz works a
Page 24 and 25: Snapshots A round-up of BCDA's mile
Page 26 and 27: FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES FREEPORTS AN
Page 28 and 29: FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES FROM 2 to 52
Page 30 and 31: FREEPORTS AND ECOZONES Subic steps
Page 32: ALAB NG PUSO The Bases Conversion a

BCDA Collective | Issue 1 2018

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?