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| Photo credit: Josephine Jaron Codilla's Facebook |
Netizen Josephine Jaron Codilla narrates in her Facebook post that Basa has received these Gold Crosses due to his courage, he was wounded once in Basilan, three times in Marawi and recently, this March, in Sulu. He has been diving into the dens of the Abu-Sayyaf and been jumping into improvised explosive devices (IED) to protect his comrades. Basa’s also been recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Star and the Medal of Honor due to almost dying from their encounter with the Abu-Sayyaf Group in Sulu this March 13 only. He almost died after being shot to the head by an M14 bullet, luckily it didn’t reach his brain.
Codilla stated that Basa’s Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. Charlie Galvez would revive Sergeant Basa’s recommendation for the Medal of Honor,
“I am emotional and so touched by his gesture to salute me even if he is still incapable of moving his hand and body,” he stated after visiting Seargeant Basa last March 15.
For despite being subconscious, Basa still displayed the “highest sense of honor and respect to his superiors.
“It only shows that even in his subconscious he still practiced the highest sense of honor, obedience and respect to his superiors and to the flag. I have given orders for my staff to work for the revival of his Medal for Valor award recommendation and for the other awards that are due to this battle-tested brave soldier," he added.
And when Codilla asked the Sergeant if he is still ready to fight and risk his life for the country again, he replied, “I only want to follow his superiors and serve the country.”
“Ang hangad ko po bilang isang sundalo ay sundin ang nakakataas sa akin at paglingkuran ang bayan,” Basa replied.
When asked about if whether he wants to retire or not, he replied that, “It depends on my superiors decision Ma’am, I am only following orders.”
"Depende po sa nakakataas sa akin Mam, following orders lang po ako," Basa replied
The netizen wishes that the Staff Sergeant gets the Medal of Valor that he deserves, for there are no other acts of bravery that can level up to what Basa has done. “Basa has repeatedly shown “acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and interpridity above and beyond the call of duty.”
“Makailang beses na niyang ipinakita ang ‘acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intepridity above and beyond the call of duty’,” Codilla stated.
Codilla ended her post by hopefully wishing that Basa doesn’t get his 6th Gold Cross and rather get the Medal of Honor that he, without doubt, deserves. And that Basa finally gets to meet his wife that’s recently been through labor.
