A mother's grief for Marawi's hero
Published Jan 31, 2026 04:29 pm
More than four months after First Lieutenant John Frederick “Jeff”
Savellano fell in battle on June 9, 2017, alongside 12 fellow Marines in
Marawi City, the grief of his mother, Mercy, remained as deep and enduring
as the day she lost him — a pain she shared in an interview
with Tempo that revealed both the sorrow and the pride of a family who
raised a hero.
“The most painful feeling is to see your child’s name inscribed on a
tombstone,” said Mercy Savellano during the interview.
The family was preparing to visit the grave of Jeff, or “Borgy,” at Libingan
ng mga Bayani on Nov. 1, 2017, to pray and celebrate the life of the clan’s
“pride.” Mercy could not contain her grief as she remembered the previous
year’s All Saints’ Day, when the usually “jolly” Jeff was with them, joining
other members of the clan in the annual visit to their lola’s grave in San
Pedro, Laguna.
Losing a good son, she said, is so hard to accept, even if people revered
him as a “Hero of Marawi.”
Mercy Savellano (left) with her son, Marawi hero First Lieutenant John Frederick Savellano
“Paano ba ang hindi masaktan dahil ang anak mo ay namatay na isang
bayani? Paano ba ang maging masaya dahil ang anak mo ay isang
bayani? ‘Yan ang lagi kong tanong sa sarili,” Mercy said.
She explained that the benefits they received from the government and the
tributes accorded to her 29-year-old son by various institutions served as
consolations, but they also pierced her heart.
“Masakit kapag naiisip ko eto ang kapalit ng buhay ng anak ko. Ano ba ang
mensahe ni God, bakit maagang kinuha sa amin si Jeff?” said Mercy,
whose family has long been active in the Couples for Christ community.
She recalled that she almost fainted when then President Rodrigo Duterte
handed her the “Kalasag Medal” for her son during National Heroes Day
rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Mercy said the idea of Jeff’s early death in battle never crossed the family’s
mind when he, then commander of the 37th Marine Company, Marine
Battalion Landing Team 7, and his team left Manila for the Marawi mission.
They strongly believed in his capability and expertise as a military officer.
“Alam ko babalik ang anak kong buhay dahil magaling, matapang, at
intelligent siya,” she shared.
A testament to 1Lt. Savellano’s mettle and integrity was when he led his
team in recovering ₱52.2 million in cash and ₱27 million worth of checks
from a house that terrorists had used as a machine gun post in Marawi on
June 5.
Mercy believes Jeff himself did not foresee his death after the team’s major
achievement in Marawi. From the battlefield, he had texted his siblings,
saying he was looking forward to family bonding upon his return. He even
wanted to catch up with the movie Wonder Woman, according to Mercy.
But shock came to the family on the night of June 9 when they were
informed that 1Lt. Savellano had died along with his men during a 14-hour
intense battle against the rebels. She initially refused to believe the news
because earlier that day, Jeff had texted her, saying, “Don’t worry Mama,
I’m okay.”
Mercy later learned that Jeff and his men were hit by the rebels’ bomb
while trying to rescue 10 soldiers trapped in a burning building. The
severely wounded Jeff was the last Marine to be extracted from the
encounter site.
He was seen biting his hand, which Mercy said was an indication that her
son, who was also a licensed nurse, was fighting for his life. “Ibig sabihin
may willingness pa siyang mabuhay kahit na sugatan,” she said.
Mercy added that she begged off from hearing further details of her son’s
final hours: “Ayokong malaman kung paano namatay ang anak ko. Gusto
kong isipin na nasa operation lang siya.”
When Jeff first informed her about the recovered money, she told him not to
do anything that would tarnish his military career. Jeff, in turn, replied that
doing the right thing was not just about his career but about his whole
being.
“Buong pagkatao ko ang nakasalalay dito, Ma,” Jeff told his mother.
The money was completely intact when Jeff’s team turned it over to their
battalion commander, an act that changed the public perception of Filipino
soldiers.
“Nang dumalaw kami ni Fred (Jeff’s father) sa kampo, sinasabi ng mga
Marines sa amin, ‘Nagpapasalamat kami kay Sir Jeff dahil itinaas niya ang
kasundaluhan sa mata ng mga tao,’” she said.
Jeff himself was proud of his team’s achievement. A day after the recovery
of the Maute terrorist group’s cash and checks, Jeff wrote on his Facebook
page:
“Thank you Lord for not letting me and our platoon be blinded by the sight
of money! The LORD is truly our refuge and our strength. Hurrah marines!”
On June 17, 2017, a hero’s burial was accorded to Jeff, who, according to
his mother, had initially planned to pursue priesthood before deciding to
enter the military — which he served with utmost dedication for seven
years.
On January 10 of this year, the Order of St. Stephen was conferred upon
Jeff, a former member of CFC Kids for Christ and Youth for Christ, in
recognition not only of his heroism during the 2017 Marawi siege but also
of a life deeply rooted in faith and his relationship with God.
May the legacy of Jeff Savellano and all other fallen soldiers who sacrificed
their lives to liberate Marawi City from terrorists continue to inspire
generations to come.