Pinoys urged to honor soldiers’ sacrifices, bravery

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has urged Filipinos to honor the men and women in uniform who sacrificed their life and safety to protect the country against local and foreign threats.

In a speech during a flag-raising ceremony organized by the Salute to a Clean Flag Movement and the National Parks Development Committee in Rizal Park on Monday, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the bravery of these men and women should remind Filipinos of the price of peace and the commitment required to safeguard it.

Present at the ceremony were three soldiers who were incapacitated from injuries they suffered in the performance of their duties in Marawi, Basilan and Maguindanao.

Among the soldiers was Army Capt. Jerome Jacuba, who became blind after an improvised bomb exploded near him in Maguindanao in 2016.

In 2018, Jacuba founded the Wounded Soldiers’ Agriculture Cooperative in Batangas, which seeks to help wounded and incapacitated soldiers.

Brawner’s speech came two days ahead of the seventh anniversary of the liberation of Marawi from the control of Islamist-inspired terrorist group Maute today.

“Their courage and selfless sacrifice will never be forgotten. Their bravery will continue to inspire us as we confront the challenges ahead,” Brawner said.

He also talked about ongoing efforts of the AFP to maintain peace in the West Philippine Sea.

“I hope Filipinos recognize the sacrifices of our soldiers, who are deployed in nine occupied features of the West Philippine Sea,” he said. “Their contribution to patriotism and pride in our heritage is invaluable.”

Brawner thanked the Salute to a Clean Flag Movement – which is celebrating its fifth anniversary – for coming up with an advocacy inspired by the Marawi liberation.

The movement seeks to reignite patriotism through abundant and proper display of the Philippine flag.

For five months, the Mautes laid siege to Marawi, killed up to 167 soldiers and police and wounded 1,200 others, according to Col. Jo-ar Herrera, chief of the AFP’s public affairs office and former spokesman for the Joint Task Force Marawi.

Herrera said efforts to preserve peace in Marawi are ongoing.