Many Filipino soldiers and policemen have given up their lives to fight against the terrorists in Marawi City. Among those soldiers was Technical Sergeant Aldrin “Tap” Dinglasan, who shared a brief banter with ABS-CBN reporter Chiara Zambrano.
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“Pagbalik ko, liligawan kita,” Zambrano quoted what Dinglasan told her when she last saw him alive before leaving for Mapandi Bridge, noting that he was obviously trying to joke around and make his fellow soldiers laugh.
“Mahina lang ang pagkasabi niya, halatang biro lang para patawanin ang mga katabi niyang tropa. Eh kaso tumalbog yung tunog papunta sa’kin sa kabilang kalsada,” she wrote.
She even teased Dinglasan when she heard the statement, causing the soldier to grow embarrassed while seated beside his fellow soldiers.
“Bumalik ka muna nang buhay, saka tayo mag-usap,” was what Zambrano told Dinglasan.
She recalled how Dinglasan waved at her with a smile before the truck that he was in started moving.
And the ending to what netizens dubbed as a “heartbreaking story”?
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“Hindi na nakabalik si Tsg Dinglasan nang buhay noong araw na iyon. Siya ang kaisa-isang Marine na pumanaw noong araw na binawi ng Marines ang Mapandi Bridge mula sa kamay ng mga terorista. Ang buddy niya, iyang nakangiti sa tabi niya, ay nasugatan din,” Zambrano wrote.
She thanked him for his service and for preparing for the fight with a smile plastered on his face.
“Salamat sa serbisyo, Tap. Natuwa naman ako na kahit paano, lumusob ka sa laban nang nakatawa,” she added.
According to an ABS-CBN report, Dinglasan’s remains arrived home on June 3. His widow, Lea, said that Dinglasan was already making plans to retire early and go to Canada to find work after his retirement. Dinglasan has been in the military for 20 years before he died during a combat clearing operation in Brgy. Lilod Madaya in Marawi City.
“Sabi niya pagkatapos niya ng pagre-retire, magtratrabaho pa rin siya. Sabi pa nga po niya, sa Customs muna siya kasi nandun si sir [Commissioner Nicanor] Faeldon, tapos habang naghihintay siya ng tawag sa Canada, kasi may apply din siya sa Canada, kasi sabi niya, hindi na lang niya kami pwedeng pabayaan na lang ng ganun,” said Lea.
“Hindi na tayo nakapagsabi ng ‘I love you’ sa isa’t-isa, kaya pala nung araw na yun, wala akong kagana-gana, yun pala may nangyari na sa’yo, pa,” she added.
His remains will be cremated and buried on June 10, ABS-CBN reports.
Sources: ( news.abs-cbn.com )
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