SEC. OPLE LAUDS MAJOR LATONERO
OF PHILIPPINE PEACE MONITORING TEAM IN ACEH, INDONESIA
DFA Secretary Blas F. Ople commended the late Philippine Air Force Major
Joseph Rodolfo D. Latonero, one of eight Filipino Armed Forces officers
who are serving with the Philippine Monitoring Team in Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.
In citing Major Latonero, Ople said "…his contribution as the District
Leader of the North Aceh Tripartite Monitoring Team of the Joint Security
Committee was invaluable."
Major Latonero drowned Friday (11 April) afternoon while swimming in Lampuuk,
Great Aceh. Witnesses said that he was standing in the water when
caught by three huge waves. The initial wave carried him to deep water;
the other two brought him even farther.
Witnesses rushed to his rescue but they could not find him in time in those
rough waters. They would later find his lifeless body adrift.
He was brought to the Kesdam Military Hospital in Banda Aceh for medical
disposition and was later transferred to the Dr. Zainal Abidin General Hospital
for autopsy and embalming.
Mass was said for him at the Banda Aceh Catholic Church and full military
honors given by the Indonesian TNI/Police forces before he was sent off
on his last journey home.
The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta made all the arrangement for his overnight
stopover in the Indonesian capital. Also on hand at the airport to
meet the flight from Aceh were representatives from the Office of the Indonesian
Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs.
Major Latonero was from Sorsogon, Sorsogon. Prior to his assignment
in Aceh, he was Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations,
MA7, PMA. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1985
and went on to earn a Masters in Public Management from the University of
the Philippines College-Baguio in 1999.
Major Latonero was an accomplished officer, recipient of various awards,
decorations, and commendations during his military career. He left
behind a wife and two children. END