Remains of Ilonggo Marine officer killed in Sulu encounter arrive in Iloilo

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): Remains of Ilonggo Marine officer killed in Sulu encounter arrive in Iloilo

The remains of 1Lt. Roger Flores, an Ilonggo Marine officer who died in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu last week, were brought home to Iloilo on Wednesday.

Flores’ body arrived at Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan at around 9 a.m. on board an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s Fokker F27 plane.

Arriving with the remains were Flores' mother, Remia Flores, and some of his fellow Philippine Marines.

Immediate families and friends of Flores welcomed the body at the airport.

Members of the Public Affairs Office of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) headed by its spokesperson, Major Ray Tiongson were also there along with the Iloilo media.

Currently, Flores' remains lie in state at Somo Funeral Homes in Delgado St., City Proper.

Flores, a native of Barangay Tanza Bonifacio, City Proper, was one of the seven casualties in an encounter between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf group in Patikul town, Sulu Thursday morning.

For his relatives, friends and fellow Ilonggos, Flores is someone that they can be proud of and is a hero.

Flores was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Masiglahi Class 2009. He graduated with flying colors as he was the top 3 of the Class. He also went through the Marine Basic Officer Training Course in the United States.

He was supposed to be on his fifth year of service in the Philippine Marines.

Before he entered the PMA, Flores first earned a BS Electrical Engineering degree from the Central Philippine University (CPU).

He was also awarded as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Students of the Philippines.

Flores and his girlfriend were supposed to get married in October this year.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=656918