House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez has filed a resolution seeking to honor the soldiers who died in the July 4 Air Force C-130 plane crash in Sulu.
Calling them “fallen heroes,” Rodriguez, in his House Resolution No. 1957, said the soldiers deserve to be honored as one because they were deployed to the 11th Army Division in Sulu to join the fight against terrorism.
The Cagayan de Oro City Representative noted that the soldiers were supposed to be in the frontline operations in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu.
According to the lawmaker, four of the crash victims are his constituents in Cagayan de Oro, and he has vowed to provide assistance to their families.
“Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana recognized the heroism and bravery of the soldiers who died,” Rodriguez stated in the explanatory note of the resolution.
“He stated that ...’Their memories will live on not only in their families but throughout the military organization who continues to risk everything to achieve just and lasting peace for our nation,” the solon added.
He noted 49 soldiers died while an additional 46 suffered varying degrees of injuries “in what is considered the deadliest aviation accident in Philippine military history.” Three civilians also reportedly died in the incident.
“Now therefore, be it resolved...to honor as our fallen heroes the members of the AFP who were killed or injured in the plane crash last July 4, 2021 on their way to Sulu to join the fight against terrorism,” he emphasized.
Rodriguez, likewise, filed House Resolution No. 1958, asking the House leadership to thank the residents of Patikul, Sulu, who helped in the rescue and recovery of the dead and injured in the plane crash.
The House leader said most of those who helped the soldiers were mostly Tausug villagers who were in the middle of midday prayers when they heard the loud noise and impact of the crash.
“Almar Hajiraini Aki, a 12th grader at the Sulu National High School, said that he, together with some friends, immediately rushed to the crash site and when they got there, they saw some soldiers sprawled on the ground and found some of them alive and they were able to help three soldiers,” he said.
Rodriguez said there were also Tausug militiamen who reportedly ran to the site and took at least 20 soldiers to safer grounds.
According to the solon, the survivors did not expect the Tausugs to help them as they have heard stories of ambushes against government troops in Sulu.