Soldier held by Sayyaf awarded among 2014 TOPS

MANILA, Philippines - What will happen to my family if I die?

The morbid thought crossed the mind of Navy Commissary Steward 2nd Class Felix Guaves when he was captured by Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu in 2000.

“I thought it was my end. I prayed to almost all of the saints that time,” Guaves, one of the winners of this year’s The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) award, said in an interview yesterday.

“That time, my eldest child was just two months old,” he added.

Guaves was captured on Oct. 7, 2000 while he and two other soldiers were moving out of the swampy Mt. Punungan in Jolo, where an Abu Sayyaf lair is located.

“We acted as observers. It was around 12:30 noon when we were asked by the troops to move out of the hill immediately because they will bomb it,” he said.

Guaves was shocked when an Abu Sayyaf member pointed a cal. 45 pistol at him – the start of what could be the five longest hours of his life.

He and his captors walked about 50 meters more until they reached an area where the terrorists hid four boats.

“I considered escaping while we were on board the boat but I thought I might be able to evade one of the boats but not the other three because they will fire at me,” he said.

After alighting from the boats, Guaves and his captors continued walking until around 5 p.m. when two Army helicopters arrived, causing confusion among the terrorists.

“I thought it was the opportunity for me to escape. I picked my gun, an M60, I carried it, ran and then there was firing of shots,” he said.

“They could not catch up on me because it was the fastest run in my entire life.”

During his captivity, Guaves endured punches, kicks and other forms of physical abuses but he managed to carry on, thanks to his Navy SEAL training.

“They were complacent. They thought I was an ordinary Navy soldier,” he said.

Guaves’ capture proved to be a blessing in disguise for the military as it gave the operating troops information about the Abu Sayyaf’s positions, strength, weaknesses and equipment. His daring escape also led to the amending of the manual on war fighting for all aspiring SEAL operators.

Guaves admitted that his capture had almost prodded him to leave the service. However, his love for the country and his family prevailed.

“I need to earn to support my family. I also want to serve our country,” he said.

Guaves’ daring exploits did not end with the Jolo incident as he was also one of the soldiers who were deployed to address the Zambonga crisis last year.

A wound on his left hand served as his badge of honor but it was nothing for a soldier who has stared death in the face.

“Maybe (I survived) because of my love for God. I attend mass everyday. He helps me in times of need,” Guaves, a devout Catholic said.

Aside from Guaves, other soldiers who were honored with the TOPS 2014 award were Zamboanga crisis heroes Col. Teodoro Llamas, Scout Ranger S/Sgt. Rehu Magno,  and Air Force T/Sgt. Benny Dofitas; M/Sgt. Aladin Dacayanan, Navy Capt. Alberto Carlos, Marines Sgt. Eugene Padilla, Lt Col. Adriano Duadico, S/Sgt. Sheryl Toribio, and Maj. Florencio Ritchie Capulong III. –  with reports from Venice Amoroso and Anna Bajo