Fallen soldier a great loss to govt's battle vs insurgents
It would have been one routinary combat patrol for Private First Class (PFC) Norly Camilon, one of the bravest soldiers of Charlie Company 47th IB of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Responding to an earlier call for help by the locals who were alarmed with sightings of armed men in Barangay Sagcop, Lambunao, Iloilo, PFC Camilon was with comrades, most of whom he spent time with in Mindanao.
Yet at about 11:30 that tragic Monday morning, PFC Camilon's battle was to end, falling from a sniper communist-terrorist's bullet seconds after he spotted an armed rebel trying to flee.
PFC Camilon put his life in the line of fire and tried to get the enemy. Some thirty minutes later with the exchange of gunfire over and the communist-terrorists withdrawing towards the forested area, comrades of PFC Camilon tried but failed to revive him.
A great loss, said former superior, Army Captain Lowen Marquez, who personally knew the exploits of the fallen soldier.
Captain Marquez worked closely with PFC Camilon for three years in Mindanao and one full year in Leon, Iloilo.
"He was a really good soldier, 'all-around' too because he was also our comedian and dramatic actor in the mountains," he continued of his recollection. "And I am very saddened with what happened to him."
When news broke out of the encounter Captain Marquez was among top Army officials who went out to condemn the ongoing terror and harassments made by the NPAs.
"They were there because the residents asked for help on a lot of missing cattle. They blamed it on the NPAs who were in the area and all armed. That was why the troops including PFC Camilon was there," he ended.