Soldier’s widow takes offense at Tulfo’s column

As a military wife and a widow, it pained me to read Ramon Tulfo’s column titled “Gazmin’s peace initiative toward NPA” (Metro, 5/2/13). In that column, he said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is an “organization of cowards.” That was not only an unfair and unjust statement; it was disheartening too.

Tulfo would never know the hardships and sufferings soldiers go through in combat areas, or even in time of peace when they have to perform nontraditional roles, doing even menial tasks for people in rural areas. And during disasters, soldiers are the first ones to respond, risking their lives to save people, especially the most vulnerable among them.

My husband gave up his life fighting NPA rebels. There are many widows like me who have been deeply hurt by Tulfo’s May 2 column. So with our orphaned children who looked up to their fathers as role models and inspiration.

I hope that Tulfo will have more heart when he writes about our men in uniform, for we all know that all soldiers are brave for how else would you call the men who live, fight and offer their lives for our people and our homeland?

Tulfo made me cry in pain and anger. I am proud of my husband just like all military wives. And I am proud of my husband for being an awardee of a posthumous medal for heroism. The Filipino soldier is a measure of bravery.

—MERISSA B. ENCARNACION,

encarnacion.merissa@yahoo.com