Scout Ranger’s heroic act saves hostages in Marawi

MARAWI CITY – In the last days of the five-month siege in this city, it had become apparent to government troops who were launching a final assault on the remaining Maute Group terrorists that the enemy had already grown so desperate that they were ready to give up their hostages for water and food.

And among the first to realize this advantage for the government

forces was Capt. Henry Buada of the 15th Scout Ranger Company, First Scout Ranger Regiment.

Buada and his men arrived at the frontline last October 19, ready to engage the terrorists at any time, when he was asked if he could help a hostage who had managed to break free from the enemy, but had a hard time walking.

“Sinamahan ko siya, delikado na mag-isa lang siya (I accompanied him, it was going to be dangerous if he left the area alone),” Buada, 34, said.

It was when he was helping the hostage that he noticed that there were more men, women, and children inside the building from where the man escaped. The building, as Buada recounted, would later turn out to be a mosque located near the shore of Lake Lanao.

“Sa time na iyon mainit pa ang sitwasyon, tumakbo na kami sa harap. Tinulungan ng tropa ko, habang binubuhat iyang isa, doon ko nakikita na may mga hostage pa doon. Nakalapit at nakadikit kami doon sa may building at marami pang armado sa loob (At that time, the situation was still volatile so we ran in front. My men helped me carry the hostage. It was then that I saw that there were still hostages there. We were able to get near the building but there were still many armed men inside),” said Buada, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2007.

At first, he surmised that the armed men were lying in ambush for them as they came near to rescue the hostage.

“So tatamaan talaga kami noon kasi lumapit na kami doon sa building (We were really going to be hit as we came nearer to the building),” Buada related.

But he sensed that it could also be an opportunity for him to reach out to the enemy and ask that they release the other hostages as well.

"Gusto ko mailabas mga bata, babae, at mga sugatan (I want to get the children, women and the wounded),” Buada shouted to the terrorists inside the mosque.

And to convince them that he did not mean to engage them, the captain lowered his firearm, he even took off his Kevlar helmet.

"Sinubukan kong ipakita sa kanila na unarmed na ako, binaba ko ang baril dahan-dahan, na ini-expose ang sarili ko (I tried to show them that I was really unarmed. I put down my gun slowly as if to show that I was really exposing myself to them),” he said.

Not that he was trying to play super hero, but Buada said he had lost all care for his safety when he thought of the children who were among the hostages.

“Tao lang natakot, sa time na iyon, iniisip ko mga bata, iniisip ko kung mamamatay ako dito, come what may, dahil sa mga bata, nakakaiyak at masakit sa loob makita ganoon ang sitwasyon nila (I am also human, I get scared. But at that time, I was just thinking of the children. If I died here, come what may because of the children who were crying. It hurts inside when I think of their situation there),” Buada, who is himself a father to two young daughters, said.

In the early days of the siege, Buada was wounded when he was hit in the leg in an exchange of gunfire. After spending a few days in the hospital, he returned to join his men in the main battle area.

Buada’s call did not go unheeded as five heavily armed Mautes came out of the mosque, and shouted at him: “Huwag kang lalampas dito (Do not go beyond this point).”

His men were closely following him from behind, and one of them urged him: “Sir, magsuot ka ng vest. Yung baril mo, wag mo ilalayo sa ‘yo (Sir, wear a vest. And your gun, keep it within reach).”

Then, one by one the hostages were allowed out of the mosque.

"Ini-isa-isa naming kinukuha iyong mga sugatang hostages na malapit sa amin, at hinayaan naman kami ng mga kabila na gawin namin iyon. So, dahandahan na naming ilalabas at hindi man sila nag-react (We took the wounded hostages, those who were near us. And they just let us do it. Slowly, we took them out and the enemy did not react),” Buada recalled.

And as the soldiers took the hostages, the terrorists, who have already come face-to-face with Buada, asked for water and food.

Buada called out to his men to give the enemy what they needed.

Stretchers and slippers were also prepared. "Medyo nahirapan kaming ilabas kasi ang daming rubble at masikip iyong mga butas na pinagsusuksukan at kailangang i-strecher pa (We had a hard time because of the rubble, and the holes were tight as we passed through them, then some were even on stretchers),” said.

Buada tried to strike some banter with the enemy as he went on to ask the terrorists their names and addresses. "Hindi naman sila nagsasalita talaga, hindi sila sumasagot, basta gusto lang nila tubig. Umiinom sila at sinabayan ko rin silang uminon habang busy iyong iba sa pagpapalabas ng mga hostages (They were not talking, they were not answering me. All they wanted was water, which I also did. The other terrorists were busy letting the hostages out).”

Gunfire echoed from inside the building that broke the lull, then all hell broke loose anew.

"Siguro nagpaputok lang kasi parang napansin niya na masyadong marami na iyong lumalabas. Nang biglang nagpaputok sa loob, no choice kami at mag-drop na, mag-cover na at nagpalitan na ulit ng putok (They may have fired a gun to warn that there are already too many getting out. When we heard the gunfire, we had no choice but to drop and cover. Then the exchange of gunfire ensued),” Buada recalled.

In an image that has already gone viral, Buada could be seen clutching a young girl in his arms.

The Scout Ranger captain could only recall: “Umiiyak, ang yakap ay sobrang higpit, kaya niyakap ko na rin siya ng mahigpit (The girl was crying. She embraced me so tight, so I hugged her back tightly).”

Buada first served in the military at 39th Infantry Battalion in 2007 as a platoon leader, then as an Ex-Officer with the Eighth Scout Ranger Company, Third Scout Ranger Battalion (8SRC3SRB) in Basilan.

His last assignment was in Jolo-Sulu. He became a Scout Ranger in 2009 and was immediately assigned to the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR).

Born in Baguio City, he is the second among four siblings.

The officer confessed that it was not his dream to become a soldier, but wanted to be an engineer or an architect. But when he took the PMA entrance exams, on the prodding of his friends, and passed, that changed his life.

His wife and daughter had seen the photo that was posted on the Facebook page We Support AFP.

"Ang kailangan namin ay ikaw, hindi iyong .... gusto naming buhay ka umuwi sa amin (What we need is you. We need you to come home to us alive,” his wife cried while reacting to the viral photo of her husband carrying the four-year-old girl.

Buada’s own three-year-old daughter had also wondered who the girl was.

“Your daddy saved her,” Buada’s wife answered.