5 soldiers wounded in Zambo siege get eat-all-you-can treat

MANILA, Philippines - Five of the soldiers who were among those wounded fighting the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels in Zamboanga City last September were given a surprise “eat all you can” and a free movie Christmas treat in an upscale mall in Metro Manila yesterday.

A group of overseas Filipino workers gave the holiday treat to the five soldiers who were temporarily discharged from confinement at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) in Quezon City while they are recuperating from wounds sustained in the battle against the MNLF rebels.

The five soldiers are Navy Petty Officer 3 (PO3) Arturo Balaus, S/Sgt. Weny Palalimpa, Cpl. Jose Jelly Bardon of the Philippine Army (PA) and Pfc. Edgardo Jose, Pfc. Eugene Contao of the Philippine Marines.

“I am very glad that there are civilians who have thought about supporting their soldiers. From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank them for uplifting our morale today,” Bardon said.

Bardon was a team member of the Army’s Light Reaction Company who was hit by sniper fire while rescuing American James West and his Filipina wife trapped inside their house in Barangay Sta. Catalina last Sept. 24.

Bardon, a new father of a baby girl in Negros Occidental, succeeded in neutralizing the MNLF positions through sniper fire, resulting in the successful rescue of the West couple who were trapped for days inside their house.

Bardon and his four colleagues were treated to a sumptuous Christmas lunch – a rare occurrence for soldiers who subsist mainly on biscuits and sardines while on duty.

But all of them wanted a break and chose to watch a comedy.

“After having their Christmas lunch, our battle (heroes) were treated to a free movie and they all agreed to watch the comedy flick ‘Girl, Boy, Bakla Tomboy’ instead of the usual love and action movies now being shown in the Metro Manila Film Festival,” said Army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc who facilitated the soldiers’ temporary discharge from the AFPMC.

Cabunoc said soldiers do not want to watch war flicks since they are already familiar with the situation in the frontlines, while love stories will only hurt them more since they are always alone and away from their families and loved ones.

“Seeing these wounded soldiers, every Filipino should also be reminded that there is no real winner in any armed conflict, much more pitting our soldiers against fellow Filipinos who are misguided by their leaders,” Cabunoc said. 

More than 200 people died and nearly 10,000 became homeless during the fighting with the MNLF rebels led by the faction of Nur Misuari that began on Sept. 9. Misuari and his men tried to storm the Zamboanga city hall to put up their independence flag but were prevented by troops that led to a three-week siege of the city.

The people of Zamboanga were initially hesitant to observe Christmas but then decided to celebrate the season to bring joy to the children and survivors.

In the village of Sta. Catalina, one of the four barangays burned down by the rebels during the siege, residents made last-minute decorations and celebrated Christmas.

“We thought of forgoing this celebration thinking of what had happened to us, but we thought what this little thing will give to our children, so we finally made a little celebration. not thinking that the joy would also help us forget the harrowing experiences,” said Josephine Bella, a resident of Sta. Catalina.

Residents said they were happy to see their children forget the sad experiences for a moment.

The city government told residents President Aquino has approved the release of P3.5 billion to fund the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R). Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the Z3R is aimed to establish within six to 18 months systematic and well-organized villages conducive to the residents’ welfare.  – With Roel Pareño