Sunday, November 02, 2014

Dying young as a hero: The story of 2nd Lt Jun Corpuz



Cadet Jun Corpuz developed his leadership abilities when he became the Company Commander of Foxtrot Company, Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines.


Definitely, it was not an ordinary All Souls Day 2014. I was visiting the tomb of my father-in-law when I received a text message about the death of 6 Army soldiers in Basilan. Again?

I heard that one of the fatalities was a young Army officer who wanted to become a Scout Ranger like me. 

In the initial accounts that I gathered from the ground, I learned that he died as a hero.

I called some friends and colleagues to know more about this man. Gradually, I felt like I lost my own brother.

A proud Ilocano, 2nd Lieutenant Jun Galima Corpuz, 22, was the fourth child among the seven children of Cresencio and Elizabeth, both 49. 

He was a second year BS Engineering student of Don Mariano Marcos State University in Bacnotan, La Union when he decided to enter the Philippine Military Academy in April 2010.

A brilliant mathematician since his college days, he excelled and graduated number 13 in his class. 

Scout Ranger dream

As a PMA cadet, Corpuz dreamed of becoming a Scout Ranger and  yearned to live a life that is full of danger. 

After finishing the orientation course on Scout Ranger combat leadership fundamentals, he was more determined become a 'Musang' (Scout Ranger) himself.

As a PMA cadet, 2nd Lt Corpuz had expressed his intention to become a Scout Ranger. This photo was taken during their field training exercises.

He was motivated by the combat stories shared by his maternal uncle, Master Sergeant Jaime Galima, a battle-hardened Scout Ranger who regularly visited his home when he was still a young boy.

"He told me that he would like to earn the 'tabak' (Scout Ranger qualification badge) one day. He really wanted to become a war hero and a warrior like uncle Jaime," said Emmanuel, 23, his elder brother.

His company commander, 1st Lt Michael Ignario, said that Corpuz volunteered to attend the rigorous 6-month Scout Ranger Course. 

"He was very dedicated in his job and he showed the best traits of a leader. I programmed him to attend the SR Course in the 2nd quarter of 2015,"said Ignario.


Dying a hero

Corpuz was never discouraged by the unfavorable comments from his relatives who said that "soldiers die young".

"I am not afraid to die because anyone will die once God decides to take back his life. I rather die a hero than perish as a 'tambay'," Cresencio quoted him as saying.

He considered his Basilan assignment as the start of the fulfillment of his dream of becoming a warrior-leader. 

He was very excited when he reported for duty as a Platoon Leader of Alpha Company, 64th Infantry Battalion in the war-torn municipality of Sumisip.


2nd Lt Jun Corpuz gamely posed for a photo with Muslim women during a CMO activity in Basilan Province.


Sgt Marvin Paragoso, 33, was one of the two survivors who fought with Corpuz against a numerically superior enemy early morning on Sunday (November 2). 


He said that Corpuz was a very good leader who can easily mingle with the troops. 

"He was a very caring person who readily listened and helped solve our problems. He always found time to interact with us during our leisure time," said Paragoso as he held back tears.

2nd Lt Jun Corpuz was known as an approachable leader who can easily mingle with the enlisted personnel under his command.

Paragoso was with Corpuz during a routine security patrol in Libug village, Sumisip town where the construction of the 64-km Basilan Circumferential Road was ongoing. 

Corpuz and his men saw a high ground that could be used by bandits as a staging ground for their attacks. He decided to clear the  bushy part of the hill by personally checking its surroundings. 

"While climbing the hill, we saw a man who hurriedly left away from the crest. All of a sudden our leading elements were heavily engaged in an intense firefight, hitting some of them. Positioned a few meters from the leading elements,  Lt Corpuz commanded us to provide supporting fires to save them. We fought hard but we were overwhelmed by their numbers."

Sensing that they will be encircled, Paragoso convinced Corpuz to jump towards a ravine and find a covered position as he radioed for reinforcements. 

"I saw Lt Corpuz firing his gun at our attackers while I leaped towards a defilade to escape from the high-explosive rounds that rained on us. I was hit and bleeding so I crawled towards safety," he said. 

When his comrades came after about half an hour, they found the lifeless body of their respected officer. 

He died fighting to save his wounded comrades whom he considered as his brothers. 

Tears flowed as they carried all of the six fatalities back to their detachment. 




"I will never forget a compassionate leader like him. True to his word, he left no one behind," said Paragoso, a native of Cotabato.


Provider

A construction worker himself, Cresencio said that Jun supported the family during its trying times. 

"After his PMA graduation, he loaned an amount so that his mother can pay all the debts that she incurred while sending all our children to school," he said.

Cresencio also said that Jun acted like a mentor to his other siblings. 

"He was the one who encouraged them to study well and become a better person. He event encouraged his brothers to take the PMA entrance exams," he said. 




** Photos were taken from the FB account of 2nd Lt Jun Corpuz (with permission from his family members)

94 comments:

  1. Sayang...tsk. condolence to the family.

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  2. Para sa kinauukulan: Tanong lang po..

    Tama po ba ang ginawa ni Lt. Corpuz na sya mismo at ng ilang tropa ang e check ng high ground na sinasabing pwedeng gamitin ng mga bandido sa pag atake? diba dapat may intelligence gathering muna kung ang lugar na yun ay pinamumugaran ng mga bandido?

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    1. sa pelikula lng nakikitang gumagana ang intelligence, sa phil army very minimal

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    2. Yun nga problema u hav been watching to many movies kaya yan lang alam mo na sa pelikula lang gumagana. Dont put us in the bad light here. .yung asg/bandido ang gumawa ng krimen dito

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    3. huh? minimal ang intellegence ng phil army? ano to sabak lang ng sabak kahit walang impormasyon!? malamang mauubos nga talaga ang kasundaluhan kung ganyan nga sinasabi mo

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    4. tanga ka ba o sadyang wala kang alam about military operation? ikaw ata ang madalas manuod ng pelikula dhil alam mo na sa pelikula lang ang intel gathering. cno ba naglagay ng bad light? ikaw ata eh kc tanga ka dhil dmo alam ang SOP ng military. dko sinasabing mali ginawa nila na e patrol ung lugar na una pa lang na ID na ni Lt Corpuz na posibleng gmitin ng asg ang lugar na un...common sense kung ikaw ang nsa sitwasyon ni Lt Corpuz maaring mag request ka ng back up from intel na e survey ang lugar ng sa ganon di sila nasorpresa.

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    5. Un naman kc ata ang trabaho ng mga scout ranger ang mgrecon...

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    6. Wlng pgkukulang ang intel jn at ung mga kasundaluhan...palawakin ang isip...kng ang military ay my taktika para s kalaban..ganun din ang bandido...my sarili din cla taktika...kya wla dpat cicihin s ngyari dhil ksama yn s cnumpaan...bagaman masakit bilang sundalo kylangan handa s anu mang posibleng mangyari...

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    7. anumang laban na nalalagasan ang tropa ibig sabihin may pagkukulang. palawakin at armasan ng makabagong kagamitan sa pagpapatrolya kagaya ng drones para nman kahit papano mgamit sa pag susurvielance ng lugar kagaya ng na ID ni Lt Corpuz. sna nman sa AFP modernization eh isama na nila ang pag aquire ng mga kagamitan na ginagamit sa intelligence.

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    8. magaling at matalas ang pang amoy ni Lt Corpuz kaya nya na ID ung lugar na kung saan eh pwedeng gamitin ng ASG ung lugar, kung may drones tayo malamang pinalipad na ni Lt Corpuz un pra makapag surveillance ng area at kung na detect na may ASG don nka pag air strike na muna. tgnan nyo sa Israel di gaanong nalalagasan ang mga kasundaluhan nila dahil may mga drones sila na ginagamit sa intel at pag na ID nila na may kaaway air strike muna then kasunod ang pagsuyod sa lugar ng ground forces. .dba panalo sila at walang nalagas na sundalo. kaya sna nman bumili na at kompletohin na ang mga kagamitan ng AFP natin. Mabuhay kayo AFP mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

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    9. Nakita nila na may tao diba bigla umalis na mamadali dapat alerto na don at magplanu anu dapat gawin..ayon ambus tuloy ang nangyari.

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  3. Rest easy Soldier. You are a HERO and may your death be an INSPIRATION to our youth and a source of STRENGTH and RESOLVE for our military. RIP

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  4. Nakakabadtrip tong mga ASG na ito... Ano hihintayin nyo nanaman dumami mga yan? Di nyo pa ubusin yan eh out number yan sa AFP.... Ano bang problema at hirap na hirap tayo? Nakakapanginig ng laman sa galit!!! Condolence sa pamilya ni Lt. Corpuz at sa Class nya sa PMA.

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    Replies
    1. Remember always

      War is a business

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    2. Gobyerno ang sisihin sila dapat ang patayin .. Lahat ng sundalo tuta nila mga afp may pinaglalaban ding katwiran minsan pinopondohan ng putang inang public officials para magkagulo at makabenta ng armas puta dapat walang gyera kung walang may pakana sa taas .. Bitayin mga mayayamang kurakot na yan tayong mga NASA baba ginagamit Lng para gumawa ng pera mgbayad sa manila .. Kailangan ng isang rebolusyon

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  5. Sir may ask lang po ako, i am an ROTC cadets here in la union po....bakit officer lang lagi ang hero pano nman yung mga enlisted na kasama sa namatay? hindi po kaya kasalanan pa ng officer na yan kung bakit nangyari sa kanila yan eh.... wrong decision makes the troops suffered....

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    1. Anong alam mo? Eh ROTC ka lang naman... Kung makikita lang kita ng personal baka ma sampal kita ng tsinelas...

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    2. Haan mo pabasulen ta officer manong ROTC...basaem t revelation ti katropa na. Di mo aya maamiris nga kapakanan tI tropa na t inuna na bago ti bagi na... read the blog bro! Makapabwisit ka

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    3. Ndi mo alam mga oinahihiraan namin kaya wala kang karapatan magsabi nyan... Peron in some point hero din naman sila...

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    4. wag ka namang ganyan rotc cadet dn ako. let him serve as a very good example to us na dpat nating tularan. he‘s brave kc. eh ikaw puro hangin s utak pnpairal? cadet ka pa lang tas gnyan ka na kung mkpagsalita.. sana ikaw nlang ang nmatay.

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    5. Gunggong k pala eh. Bago k mgsalita isipin m muna mbuti ang sitwasyon ng isang totong sundalo s isang cadet n gaya m. Npasabak knb s gyera o nkapag-kadre k man lng ba?? Cguro nga xa lang ang nbanggit s balita but we all know that they are all considered heroes. Except you I guess kung sino k man. Its' just that he is the team leader and he carries tge honour for the whole group. At cguro kng kasama k man dun, malamang bagonp mgkaputukan nakatago kna s ilalim ng saya ng nanay m..

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    6. How could you say that?I am also an ROTC cadet but I dont see it that way.Cguro 4CL kapa.O di kya ay isang cadet lang na bhala basta maka sali lang sa corps kahit walang further knowledge when it comes to military situation.HINDI AKO ENLISTED PERSONNEL PERO MISMONG AKO NA INSULTO SA COMMENT MO.Have you handled a corps or a flight?Cguro wala pa o di kaya ay naka handle kana pero isa karing walang pakialam na corcom.Sa susunod na mag tatanong ka hijo/hija,use the right words to illustrate something,its okay to be straight to the point but be ready for the further reactions.And to answer your question ,kung bakit officers lang ang kinikilalang hero,nagkakamali ka ,hehe,basa basa ka ng mga military history at articles ha.Tapos palawakin mo isip mo,baka sakali gumana pa.

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    7. en who adopt the profession of arms submit to their own free will
      to a law of perpetual constraint of their own accord.
      They resist their right to live where they choose,
      to say what they think, to dress as they like.
      It needs but an order to settle from their family and dislocate their normal lives.
      In the world of command they must rise, march, run,
      endure bad weather, go without sleep or food,
      be isolated in some distant post, work until they drop.
      If they drop in their tracks, if their ashes are scattered in the four winds,
      that is all part and parcel of their job.

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  6. Mahirap mawalan ng mahal sa buhay.. !.
    Wag na sana .. hintayin pang maubus ang mga PMA. dahil sa mga abu sayyaf na yan.. wala na bang kalayaan ang pilipinas,. ..

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  7. Respect for this young officer. RIP

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  8. Info: naka briefing na ang mga naka deploy units kung ang area affected or not. Routinary ang ginawa nila na pagcheck lalo na sa mga on-going projects na lagi exploited ng lawless elements like ASG. .you earned my respect young hero, travel well back to paradise

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  9. Hats off Sir! Rangers never die, they just hike in heaven.

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  10. he was then my best companymate..my snappiest salute to you..

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  11. I salute you Lt Jun Corpuz!

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  12. LIFE HAS ITS OWN WAY TO DEATH AND IT HAS DIVINE REASON FOR OTHERS TO LIVE. FOXTROT!!!!!!!

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  13. good men die young..... corrupt officials are hard to die...

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  14. Why not the government go after this enemies??

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    Replies
    1. no war no money in their pocket

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  15. Weak hearts and weak flesh do not exist where the undaunted spirits dwell..... Young blood shall come to carry on....

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  16. I salute u sir!people like u makes d world go round..if only der are more like u..esp in d government..

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  17. Bkit d nlang si Binay at ang iba png mga magnanakaw sa govt.. RIP Sir nd condolence sa pamilya ng mga namatay.. i still believe na edukasyon ang sagot d2 hayyy

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    1. Bat di na lang ikaw ang namatay.. pati c binay idinawit mo.. magkanonbayad sayo ng liberal party?? gunggong utak mo. Hanggang dito pulitika pa rin binubulalas mo., edukasyon ang gamotnsa tulad mong ungas.. punyetaness ka!! Hayop ka!

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  18. r.i.p soldier! your dmmmsu nluc high skul family will be always grateful of your heroic acts!!!

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  19. All gave some, some gave all. Snappiest salute brother. Father has called you home.
    (Naaalala ko nung pinagsabay mo kami ng buddy ko. Haha.)

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  20. He was my partner during one of those PMA Cadets Hop..rest in peace Sir..

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  21. May the loving grace of the Lord grant you eternal rest soldier! As your grade four teacher in CES Bacnotan, my heart breaks and can't hold the tears while reading this blog. Thank you rangercabunzky for this blog. FYI Lt Jun Corpuz did not only excel in math in college. He was a mathematician since elementary winning different math competitions. Smart at mabait...that is how I remember him. I salute this young hero... I am sad but proud son!

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  22. you're a hero jun.. kahit d tau naging classmate nung engineering days.. nkilala kita thru ur papa na brod ko.. condolence to corpuz family.. comdolence brod cresencio...

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  23. R.I.P sir n to d troops kia

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  24. you did not deserve to die sir.
    -bayan

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  25. salute to you bok , works of patriotism will never be forgoten!

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  26. Thank you for your service brave and loyal soldier.

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  27. tapos na ang lahat. no need beautifier language to be put at the center of the table. dalawa lang ang abutin ng isang dedikadong hangaway ng iyong (PH) bansa. "Hero Run" at "Hero Died" at ito sila ay mga real PH Soldiers distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength as heroes of the Battle of Philippines against terrorist. condolence to the families and comrades in arms of 2Lt Jun Corpuz.

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  28. haynaku ketdi!!!!!!ayyy inahhh apoh kayo!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Duldog ka nga dugyot! Mangibabain ka! Nu awan maibagam nga nsayaat mapan mo la ikali ta dugyot nga bagi mun tapnu mabsug pay dgjay alinta!

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  29. Pugay Kamay! You now join your brothers in the long gray line....

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    1. RIP to sir 2nd Lt.Corpuz.... saludo ako sa AFP..sa lahat ng ng mga sundalo na pumuprotekta at nagbubuwis ng buhay para sa kapayapaan ng ating inang bayan. ..

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  30. CONDOLONCE TO THE FAMILY OF SIR CORPUZ.

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    1. I Salute You Sir ...RIP ....makakaganti din tayo...

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  31. Truly a hair raising, emotional and remarkable story of an ordinary young man on his journey towards becoming a hero he was made and destined to be...inspiring...an ordinary man doing an extraordinary thing...making that ultimate sacrifice...no hesitations...in search of that elusive and costly commodity called "peace"...carry on hero...job well done...thank you for everything....to the family our proud salute and admiration...be assured of our prayers...a salute of a proud nation...gone soon but never in vain...carry on soldier...job well done...sleep tight...hurry home...

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  32. The United Corpuz Clans Federation Foundation extend condolences to the family of Lt. Jun Corpuz....We salute you Lt. Jun Corpuz for your bravery and dedication to serve our country, your name and deeds will always be remembered!!

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  33. To LTC Cabunoc sir thanks for telling the story of a simple yet brave and great man...truly inspiring...God rest his soul...God bless the AFP and God bless this great nation!

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  34. ang sama!!!, the 3 em's are from Aleosan, Cotabato, sad to note that Aleosan offered 3 brave soldiers in this incident.

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  35. Definitely a hero..codolence to his family of Lt. Jun Corpuz..

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  36. during our high school days, we called him empeng negro (long story). Though he has this dark complexion, he brightens everything around him with his funny side and brilliance in math in which most of us those days find hard. he was this whiz in Math....

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    1. I am not surprized! He was a math wizard as a kid. RB

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  37. RIP..Lt. Corpuz

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  38. Condolence po.
    A brave man.


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  39. being ur foster parents,we're proud of u anak, we thank God for beinga part of our family,we love u & we wil b mising u,may ur soul rest in peace. To the parents of Jun we wish to extend our condolenses

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  40. " I do not know the dignity of his birth but I know the glory of his death." Condolences to the family of 2LT Corpuz. Thank you for serving the country sir.

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  41. I salute you lt. Corpuz.

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  42. Rest in peace Lt.Corpuz

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  43. To my comrades in arms who serve behind the limelight even if it means the ultimate sacrifice you will always be my heroes. as the former executive officer of 64IB during the 2008 conflict in maguindanao I am proud to have served with this battalion of heroes. Carry on KNIGHTS.

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  44. BRAVE ONE. . .I SALUTE YOU LT. CORPUS. . .REST IN PEACE. . .

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  45. grabe to, im a 22 yr old , and same aspiring to be a scout ranger, after graduating sa PMA , ganito lang mang yayari, I salute you and other soldier sir RIP!

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  46. Isang mkabuluhang buhay ang nalagas ngunit s pagpanaw mo naway mabigyan ng kabuluhan ang iyong pgsasakit at pagkamit ng pagbbago.nawa ika'y maging halimbawa s lahat nasa serbisyo man o isang ordinaryong Tao lng n kung gugustuhin ay mkkamit ang ninanais.ipinakita mo ang totoong tingkad ng iyong pgmamahal s bayan..maysa ka nga pagal lagadan kadagiti agtutubo manong..proud of u.proud kami nga ilokano.RIP.

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  47. CONDOLENCE to former cadet 1CL Corpuz!. RIP SIR! :'(

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  48. Kailyan diyos t kumuyog kenka

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  49. Diyos t kumuyog kenka kailyan

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  50. ilan ba ang namatay sa side ng ASG?

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  51. Rest in peace sir!

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  52. RIP Young hero and condolence to corpuz family

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  53. EDGAR ALLAN SERQUINA11/04/2014 07:42:00 PM

    may pgkkataon tlga na ganyan kya dpat always prepare ka.. saludo ak kanyam young hero REST IN PEACE.. CONDOLENCE TO CORPUZ FAMILY

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  54. Ella Natura Galvez11/05/2014 06:11:00 AM

    Condolence ti sibubukel a pamilya n Lt.Jun Corpuz...

    Pudno a BAYANI ka ading, ta ti pagsyaatan ti kaadwan ti inka pinanunot haan a para bagbagim lang..

    Proud of u ading ,HERO ka a pudno....

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  55. Ella Natura Galvez11/05/2014 06:16:00 AM

    Condolence ti sibubukel a pamilya n Lt.Jun Corpuz...

    Pudno a BAYANI ka ading, ta ti pagsyaatan ti kaadwan ti inka pinanunot haan a para bagbagim lang..

    Proud of u ading ,HERO ka a pudno....

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  56. Foxtrot Company is proud of you...

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  57. LT Corpuz.

    Thank you for dying in the name of peace and freedom for the Filipinos and the eradication of terrorism.

    US Army Soldier

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  58. Condolence po sa family ni LT. Corpuz.

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  59. naku po, baka naman gamitin din itong malungkot na pangyayari ni Dark Lord para pa pogi points na naman

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  60. This site was... how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally I've found something which helped me.
    Thanks a lot!

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  61. Hats off to our young heroes! May you all find peace in God's loving arms..

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  62. D most honorable way to die is to die so that others may live. RIP young heroes!

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  63. I have an undying pride to our soldiers esp the PMA who become officers of their chosen field. Dedicated, trained, and for how many years they have studied to serve the countrymen, made their families proud and protected people from bandits- truly they deserve to remain forever in our memories. I may not have known you but your smiles (fallen soldiers) touch my heart and it cuts deeply you have left very soon. but for sure, God will take care of you.
    THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE BRAVERY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE. FOREVER, I WILL SALUTE TO ALL OF YOU ......

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  64. Mag iisang taon na rin ang pgkamatay ng batang tinyente na to pero npaiyak pa rin ako sa nabasa ko.. SNAPPIEST SALUTE TO THIS PMA GRADUATE.. npakatapang mo sir, hbng nabubuhay ako baon baon ko ang kwento nyo ng mistah mong si Lt.Cubillan.. THANKYOU FOR SACRIFICING YOUR LIFE FOR US TO LIVE SAFELY.. sabi nyo nga THE PHILIPPINES IS WORTH DYING FOR..
    I hope the Government could also protect your comrades pra mabawasan na ang pgkalagas ng mga kasundaluhan dhl kawawa pamilya nilang naiiwan.

    Long live Armed Forces of the Philippines ! Army strong!

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