I met with two of the widows of the 14 Marines who died last July 10 in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan last week. They are here following up the financial benefits from the government due them as dependents of the slain soldiers.
They are also here to claim the generous financial help (P500,000 each) offered by former President Estrada from his Saludo sa Kawal Pilipino Foundation.
By this time, the tears have dried up. Mary Ann Bautista, 44, and Jeanny Callueng, 36, have accepted the reality of life without their husbands. It was not so during the first moments when they learned that their husbands, Master Sergeant Noel Bautista,39, and Sergeant Rey Callueng,33, were killed in an encounter with elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front last July 10.
Mary Ann said after-battle-report on the tragedy reveals that Master Sgt Bautista was killed in the morning in the first hours of the firefight. Mary Ann said it might have it happened before 9 a.m.. because she got a text message from him a few minutes after 8 a.m) saying that they were in Tipo-Tipo. “Nagpapalit ng gulong” (Changing tires.)