War Memorial in the city for Marawi Fallen proposed

November 4, 2017 Opinion Sideglance

There is a need to pay proper homage and tribute to those in the armed services who have paid the ultimate price and made the supreme sacrifice in the war against terrorism.

This is the underlying reason behind the proposed legislative measure filed by City Councilor Edgar Avila proposing for the putting up of a memorial to commemorate the extraordinary service rendered by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) whose roots are grounded in the City of Baguio and the Cordillera Region who have been Killed In Action (KIA) in the war against terrorism in Mindanao and other parts of the country.

In the proposal Council Edgar Avila provided a list of those soldiers and policemen from the City of Baguio and the Cordillera Region who have been killed as a result of engaging terrorist forces in Marawi City to include the following to wit: PC/Insp. Fredie Manuel Solar of Baguio City Benguet of the PNP-PRO-ARMM killed on May 23, 2017 in Barangay Basak, Malutlut, Marawi City; PO1 Mones Kimayong Jr. of Lagawe, Ifugao of the PNP-SAF killed on July 25, 2017 in Bldg. 572, Barangay Fort, Marawi City; PO3 Alexis Mangaldan of Bangued, Abra of the PNP-SAF killed on July 22, 2017 in Barangay Lilod Proper, Marawi City; CPL Benito Serrano of Conner, Apayao of the PA-AFP killed on May 23, 2017 in Marawi City; CPL Nelson Wailan of Tabuk, Kalinga of the PA-AFP killed on August 3, 2017 in Marawi City; PFC Gener Tinangag of Barlig, Mt. Province of the MBC-AFP killed on June 9, 2017 in Barangay Lilod, Marawi City; PO2 Daniel Tegwa of Bauko, Mt. Province of the PNP-SAF killed on October 16, 2017 in Bldg. 1016, Barangay Pilitan, Marawi City and PFC Jethro Estacio of Banawe, Ifugao of the PA-AFP killed on October 16, 2017 in Marawi City.

Upon approval of the said ordinance a portion of the Rose Garden in Burnham Park shall be declared as a War Memorial in honor of the members of the AFP and the PNP whose roots are in the City of Baguio and the Cordillera Region who were killed in action in the war against terrorism in Mindanao and other parts of the country. The proposed ordinance also revealed that the simple memorial wall shall be constructed of black granite where the names of the deceased soldiers and policemen shall be inscribed and a bust that will depict combat shoes to signify that they died literally with their “boots” on.

Also provided in the said proposed measure will be the designation of the City Environment and Parks Management Office as the government department that will maintain and preserve the said war memorial and along this line will be authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement with duly accredited non-government organizations to effect the same.

Finally in the implementation of the provisions of the said proposed ordinance an initial amount of two million pesos will be appropriated but the city will not be prevented from accepting contributions from government agencies such as the AFP, the PNP, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Department of Tourism and/or non-government organizations for the early realization of the said project. Likewise a budget for the maintenance and upkeep of the war memorial shall thereafter be incorporated in the annual appropriations plan of the CEPMO.