AFP Renders Departure Honors for Fallen Philippine Army Soldier Windel Sabuyas Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday rendered solemn departure honors for Staff Sgt. Windel C. Sabuyas Jr., a Philippine Army soldier remembered by comrades and commanders as a man of courage and compassion whose final acts reflected a life of service.
The ceremony took place at Colonel Edwin Andrews Air Base here, where uniformed troops stood in formation as the remains of Sergeant Sabuyas were prepared for transport to his home province in northern Luzon. Military honors were conducted by the Philippine Air Force’s 530th Air Base Group, marking the start of a final journey that would take the fallen soldier to Tuguegarao City and ultimately to his burial site in Lasam, Cagayan.
Sergeant Sabuyas died following events linked to the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 maritime tragedy, an incident that drew national attention and underscored the risks faced by military personnel engaged in rescue and response operations in the country’s maritime regions. Officials said his actions during the crisis demonstrated exceptional devotion to duty.
At the air base ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald A. Borras, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion, joined members of the Sabuyas family, including the soldier’s widow, Jenelyn Sabuyas. They stood beside fellow soldiers and airmen as a Philippine flag was presented and final respects were paid before the transfer of remains.
Witnesses described a quiet, restrained atmosphere marked by the ritual precision of military honors — the careful handling of the casket, the salute of troops, and the subdued cadence of commands echoing across the airfield. Several soldiers who had served alongside Sergeant Sabuyas bowed their heads as the honor guard advanced.
After the departure rites, the casket was carried aboard a Philippine Air Force NC212i transport aircraft for the flight north. Military authorities said arrival honors were also rendered at Tuguegarao City Airport, with interment and full funeral honors scheduled in Lasam in the coming days.
Major General Leonardo I. Peña, commander of Joint Task Force Orion and the Army’s 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division, said in a statement that the command mourned the loss of a soldier whose conduct embodied the Army’s core values.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family,” General Peña said. “His life and sacrifice will continue to inspire the ranks and strengthen our commitment to service.”
Sergeant Sabuyas served within the operational sphere of the 11th Infantry Division, a formation responsible for security and stability operations across parts of Mindanao. Units under the division have long been engaged in counterinsurgency, disaster response and maritime security missions — roles that frequently place personnel in hazardous environments.
Military officials did not release further operational details of the maritime incident, but colleagues described Sergeant Sabuyas as a disciplined noncommissioned officer known for reliability in field operations and compassion toward civilians affected by crises.
In the Philippine military tradition, departure and arrival honors mark the transfer of remains from operational areas to a soldier’s hometown, a ceremonial passage reflecting the institution’s pledge that no fallen member returns home without recognition. The rites also serve to reaffirm solidarity between the armed forces and bereaved families.
For relatives gathered at the air base, the ceremony carried both grief and gratitude. Mrs. Sabuyas, accompanied by family members, received condolences from officers and enlisted personnel who approached to offer quiet words of respect.
The Armed Forces has in recent years emphasized recognition of personnel involved in disaster response and humanitarian missions, roles that often receive less public visibility than combat operations but carry comparable risk. Military leaders say such recognition reinforces morale across units deployed in remote or maritime environments.
Defense analysts note that Philippine soldiers frequently operate across archipelagic terrain, where maritime accidents, severe weather and geographic isolation complicate rescue efforts. Personnel involved in such missions face hazards ranging from rough seas to unstable vessels and limited medical access.
In honoring Sergeant Sabuyas, commanders also sought to highlight the broader ethos of service within the noncommissioned officer corps — the backbone of the Army’s operational leadership. NCOs like Sabuyas often lead small teams in field conditions, making rapid decisions during emergencies.
“The legacy of valor left by our fallen soldiers reminds us of the cost of service,” General Peña said. “Their example strengthens the resolve of those who remain.”
As the aircraft carrying Sergeant Sabuyas lifted from the runway, troops below rendered a final salute. For the military community in Zamboanga, the ceremony marked both farewell and remembrance — the closing of one soldier’s duty and the continuation of the mission he served.
Funeral honors in Lasam, Cagayan, will include traditional rites accorded to Philippine Army personnel, including military escort, flag presentation and ceremonial volleys. Military officials said the honors aim to ensure that the nation’s gratitude accompanies the soldier home.
Sergeant Sabuyas is survived by his wife, family members and fellow soldiers who, commanders said, carry forward the memory of a comrade defined by quiet dedication.
His journey from the southern air base to his northern hometown traced the geography of the nation he served — an archipelago whose defense and safety rely in part on men and women willing to face danger in its seas and skies.
In the final assessment offered by his command, Sergeant Sabuyas’s life was described not by rank or assignment but by service.
“A soldier whose legacy of valor will continue to inspire,” General Peña said.