There is perhaps no better epitome for gallantry and bravery than Staff Sergeant Antonino Basa.
For five times, he has been wounded in battle. And in the two times that he was hurt in Marawi last year, he demanded to only be injected with anti-tetanus drugs before promptly returning to action.
It was also in Marawi that he threw himself on to an improvised explosive device (IED) just to protect his fellow soldiers. Mercifully, the bomb did not explode.
A HERO’S SALUTE – Staff Sergeant Antonino Basa can barely lift his arm to salute Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) head Lt. Gen. Carlito G. Galvez Jr. who visited the battle-scarred Scout Ranger in a Zamboanga City hospital last Thursday. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
These were just a few of the heroic tales that were shared when Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Commander Lt. Gen. Carlito G. Galvez Jr. visited Basa at a hospital here Thursday.
Basa is recuperating from a head wound he sustained when he and members of the Fifth Scout Rangers Battalion (SRB) encountered fighters from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Barangay Panglahayan in Patikul, Sulu.
The government forces were attempting to rescue kidnap victims who were still in the hands of the ASG under Radulan Sahiron and sub-leaders Julie Ekit, Amlon Abtahi, and a certain Amah Asam.
According to 5th SRB commander Lt. Col. Jomalesa, Basa was part of the lead company, which had to crawl inch-by-inch just to get close to their objective.
“Nakita na namin ang kalaban nung tanghali subalit maingat na maingat kami sapagkat iniisip namin ang kalagayan ng mga hostages,” said Capt. Jay Maravillo, company commander of the 14th Scout Ranger Company.
And when Basa and his men saw that the hostages were no longer in the vicinity, they engaged their foes in a fierce firefight.
Basa and five other government troops were wounded in the encounter, while five ASG fighters were killed.
It was also Maravillo who recalled how Basa once threw his body on to an IED which lay in ambush in one of their patrols in Marawi.
“Bilib kaming lahat kay S/Sgt Basa, napakatapang at napakagaling nya. Diko makalimutan yung isang nangyari sa Marawi na may nagsabi sa kanya na merong explosive sa kanilang dadaanan, at dinapaan nya ito para isalba ang buhay ng mga kasamahan, pero swerte lang na hindi pumutok,” said Maravilla.
One of the companions of Basa also said that in two instances in Marawi, Basa was hit by shrapnel from IED attacks.
According to him, Basa only asked to be injected with the anti- tetanus vaccine, and after a rest of just a few days, he asked to be returned to the front lines with his men.
“Madaming sumusunod sa kanya kapag sya na ang nag le-lead ng tropa. Talagang nangunguna, at walang takot. Lagi nya sinasabi na kailangan ako ng tropa ko,” Basa’s comrade said.
Even Galvez could not help but be emotional when he visited Basa.
“I am emotional and so touched by his gesture to salute me even if he is still incapable of moving his hand and body,” said Galvez.
“It only shows that even in his subconscious mind he still practiced the highest sense of honor, obedience and respect to his superiors and to the flag. I have given orders for my staff to work for the revival of his Medal for Valor award recommendation and for the other awards that are due to this battle tested brave soldier,” he said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/17/epitome-of-bravery-gallantry/
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