DUMAGUETE CITY, (PNA)–The remains of a soldier who was killed recently in the Zamboanga City conflict was brought back home to his family in Dumaguete City.
Sgt. Joseph Maturan Custodio, 40, a member of the elite Philippine Marines’ Light Reaction Company was killed a few days ago by sniper fire from the rebel Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Zamboanga City.
Custodio’s body was flown on board a Philippine Air Force C-130 aircraft which landed at the Dumaguete airport around 12:45 p.m. Thursday.
The late soldier’s wife, Police Officer 3 Lucita Custodio, her family and relatives received the casket at the city airport.
The wife said her husband has been in the military service for about ten years now.
They have four children, the youngest aged 10 months.
Sgt. Custodio sustained several gunshot wounds as his unit was conducting clearing operations in war-torn Zamboanga City which MNLF rebels had stormed since September 9.
His body now lies in state at the family’s residence in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be decided by the family, the wife said.