Janjalani killer is hero of his PMA class

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – At 24, Marine 2nd Lt. Romulo Dimayuga looks more like a college freshman than the soldier who ended the life of one of the world’s most feared terrorist leaders.

All eyes were on Dimayuga as he attended his alma mater’s alumni homecoming here yesterday with more than 50 of his "mistahs" of the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA’s) "Kalasag lahi" Class of 2005.

Dimayuga was cheered on as he inched his way to find a table for the gathering, literally unseating class topnotcher Air Force 2nd Lt. Brian Cera Rayton.

The young Marine officer found himself a celebrity with the media exposure he got after he led his men in neutralizing Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani.

When Dimayuga appeared for the PMA homecoming here, everybody wanted to have his reunion photo taken with the "class hero."

The PMA Class of 2005 prides itself in having the most number of women in the topnotchers list, which also marked a first in PMA history.

Of the 149 graduates, only 50 appeared for the reunion since most of them are still in the battlefield.

The unassuming Dimayuga told his classmates that he would soon rejoin his unit at the Force Reconnaisance Batallion of the Marines in Mindanao.

He said he would rejoin his comrades in fighting what remains of the Abu Sayyaf as soon as the wound on his back is healed.

Dimayuga said he still cannot believe that he was instrumental in neutralizing the most feared terror leader in this part of the world.

"It just so happens that it was Janjalani we hit," he said.

In the same gathering, all the members of the class offered their prayers to their fallen mistah — 2nd. Lt. Peter Vinluan — their first casualty.

Vinluan was killed during an encounter with communist rebels in Surigao two months after graduation. "We are offering this (gathering)," Dimayuga said.