Another Ilonggo soldier falls in Mindanao
Another Ilonggo soldier was killed in Mindanao in what was a tragic end to a military service that was only eight months old.
The fourth Ilonggo to be slain in continued government offensives aimed at Muslim terrorists, the latest to be killed in action was Private First Class (PFC) Jun Francis Blancia.
The 24 year-old soldier is from Tibiao, Antique and was under the 10thInfantry Batallion of the Philippine Army. Sadly, it was to be his first deployment ever since he entered the service.
The 10thInfantry Batallion was based in Pagadian City, Zamboanga.
In an interview over Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Captain Lowen Gil Marquez disclosed that PFC Blancia's death was a result of an ambush. News wires reported that at least 60 members of the dreaded Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chanced upon the group of PFC Blancia in Iligan City.
A two-hour gunfire ensued with casualties in both sides.
Captain Marquez is commanding officer of the 3rdCivil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
PFC Blancia was a Criminology graduate of Iloilo Doctor's College. He was one of those who initially applied for a spot in the AFP's K9 unit.
A tearful sister of PFC Blancia, Helen Grace Balancia-Gaitan granted an interview over Bombo Radyo. She said it was her brother's desire to come home soon and join the family in watching over their sick father.
At the time of the ambush, PFC Blancia's father was undergoing surgery.