Tom to attend burial of Cebuano Marine

Mayor Tomas Osmeña will attend burial of a Cebuano soldier, who was one of those killed in an ambush in Basilan two weeks ago, in Borbon town tomorrow.

The mayor will pay his last respects to Pfc. Reuben Doronio Jr. as a Marine reservist himself and the commander of the 51st Marine Reserve Battalion in Cebu.

Osmeña, who is holding the rank of lieutenant colonel, has been awarded as the most outstanding Marine reservist.

The mayor will go to Borbon town this morning to be with the family, friends and colleagues of Doronio during the burial rites for the slain Marine at noon today.

Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong and Agnes Magpale, in a joint resolution filed before the board, also extended their condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Doronio.

Doronio was killed last July 10 in Tipo-tipo, Basilan, during an ambush by the elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front who were believed to be with Abu Sayyaf bandits when the attack happened.

Doronio, 26, left behind his wife and their five-month-old child in Borbon.

He is a member of the 61st Force Recon Company of the Force Recon Battalion under the First Marine Battalion Team that was tasked to rescue Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, an Italian priest who was kidnapped by the bandits and brought to Basilan.

Doronio’s body arrived in Cebu early this week from Bonifacio Naval Station gymnasium where he and 13 other soldiers slain in Basilan received full military honors at the Philippine Marines headquarters.

Of the 14 soldiers who died in the ambush, 10 were beheaded, Doronio was believed to be one of them.

Their families will each receive P100,000 from President Gloria Arroyo, P15,000 burial assistance, special financial assistance depending on their rank, a house and lot, scholarships for their dependents, a posthumous promotion to the next highest rank, a still undetermined posthumous combat award and other benefits and refunds. — Wenna A. Berondo and Garry B. Lao/BRP