Slain Cebuano Marine laid to rest

Around a thousand residents of Borbon town joined the funeral procession of Pfc. Reuben Doronio Jr., a member of the 61st Marine Force Recon Company, who was laid to rest yesterday after he was killed in action last July 10 in Basilan.

He was one of 14 soldiers of the Philippine Marines slain in an ambush by elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group.

Many of those who joined the funeral march wore white shirts and carried placards, some of which praised the courage of the fallen soldier while others demanded for justice.

Doronio, or “JR” to his family, is remembered by his kin and townsfolk as a man with good manners and fun to be with.  He is the youngest of the six children of Engr. Reuben Sr. and his wife Teresita.

His neighbors, family and friends condemned the beheading of Doronio and nine of the 14 Marines who were found dead on July 11 at a thickly forested area in barangay Guinanta, Albaca, Basilan.

He was believed to have died around 5 p.m. due to multiple gunshot wounds.  His family described his decapitation after death as “barbaric and inhuman”.

Doronio was one of close to a hundred Marines from the First Marine Battalion Landing Team tasked to search and rescue Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group bandits.

The elder Doronio said that one of the officers who was with his son believes the MILF, which has been helping the ASG despite their denials, overran the position the Marines had taken.

Bossi was released in Basilan last Thursday night after six weeks in captivity.  Military and police officials both claimed the release did not involve ransom despite alleged reports that the kidnappers demanded P50 million.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who is chief of the 51st Ready Reserve Battalion of the Philippine Marines, attended the funeral in full uniform and presented the Philippine flag to Doronio’s widow, Jomari.

Borbon Mayor Bernard Sepulveda and his councilors passed a resolution condemning the defiling of Doronio’s body, and those of his nine comrades, in the highest possible terms.   — Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV