HERO FROM MARAWI SIEGE

MANGALDAN—Filipinos vividly remember the image and the name of a soldier carrying out a child held hostage by Maute terrorists away to safety during a lull for the negotiated release of hostages towards the last days of the Marawi siege.

His name is Army Scout Ranger Capt. Jeffrey Buada.

But little did Pangasinenses know that Buada, whose totally unexpected display of act of heroism and humanity went viral in social media around the world, is from Barangay Banaoang in Mangaldan town.

On November 13, Buada was honored by his townmates and the Mangaldan municipal government led by Mayor Bona Fe Parayno.

His wife, siblings and father proudly joined Buada, 35, when he received the town’s plaque of recognition in front of the employees of the municipal government.

Buada, commander of the 15^th Scout Ranger Company that was assigned to pursue the remaining ragtag group of terrorists in the area, told The PUNCH in an interview that he felt happy and thankful for the recognition on seeing that he “was able to give simple inspiration to the people, especially my townmates.”

He said he is very grateful to those who appreciated what he did.

Recalling that event, he said that while in the middle of a firefight, one of his men, Staff Sergeant Allan Sumalpong pointed to him a wounded hostage limping over to their side. He accompanied him as it was too risky for Sumalpong to go by himself. He covered Sumalpong as he aided the wounded civilian. It was then when he saw weak, hungry children and women outside the building where the enemy was dug in.

Instinctively, he said he thought of his two daughters.

“I felt we needed to save them. They looked pitiful. It was hard to accept that children were in that situation,” Buada said during the interview.

He said his men who initially tried to stop him from attempting to rescue the hostages by himself eventually understood how he felt and agreed to support his plan.

“Kung kinakailangan ipusta ang buhay basta ma-accomplish ang mission, kailangang gawin” was how he felt about the need to save the hostages.

And as national media reported it later, it surprised both his men and the terrorists that he put down his firearm, removed his helmet and bulletproof vest, to convince the enemy of his good intention – to free the hostage, and allow the wounded to be brought to the hospital.

In return, Buada gave the enemies what they asked for, some biscuits and water while his men accompanied the hostages out from the ruins where they were holed in.

But it was a short-lived silencing of the guns. Firefight resumed when the terrorists rattled by sound of gunfire nearby resumed their positions and began firing at them. Fortunately, he said, his men were already back in their line and returned fire.

Buada said their five-month battle in Marawi was very difficult. “Everyday you have to think and plan tactical moves… it was full of uncertainty,” he recalled.

Buada was into his second year in college studying Architecture at the St. Louis University in Baguio City when he took a chance to take the entrance exams at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and passed.

He said he had not planned on being a soldier but he started to love the life of a soldier the moment he joined PMA.

Jeffrey’s father, John Buada, in a separate interview, said he is very proud of his son.

“He was willing to risk his life. I salute him,” John said.

Mayor Bona Fe Parayno and the local other officials gifted Buada packs of the town’s local delicacy – tapa, popularly produced here made of thinly-sliced, cured carabao meat.

“The mayor is very happy and proud that one hero in the Marawi siege is from Barangay Banaoang in this town,” said Noel de Guzman, community affairs officer of the municipal government who arranged the awarding program. (Eva Visperas)

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