23 January 2006 -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today  expressed his profound grief over the death of  Chief Warrant Officer Ruel Garcia, a Filipino- American soldier,  who was killed on 16 January 2006 when his AH 64 Apache helicopter crashed north of Taji, Iraq.

Mrs. Irene Susan B. Natividad, Acting Head of the Post, Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, USA confirmed in her report to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Officer Ruel Garcia was one of the two crew members killed in the helicopter crash north of Baghdad.   Ruel belonged to Task Force Ironhorse, part of the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood Texas.  He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq and was deployed on October 2005.

Upon receipt of Mrs. Natividad’s report, Secretary Romulo extended his deepest sympathy to Rosendo and Cynthia Garcia, parents of Ruel, on the death of their son.  “May beautiful memories of your son give you strength at this difficult time. And may it help to know how many people share your sorrow and stand with you in your time of need,” the Secretary said, as he instructed the Philippine Consulate to convey the message to the bereaved family members in Hawaii and Texas.

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu has also conveyed its condolences to Ms. Eden Garcia, Hawaii-based sister of Officer Garcia, and offered whatever assistance the family might need in connection with the shipment of  Ruel’s remains to the Philippines. Eden is now in Texas to attend to matters regarding the shipment of Ruel’s remains to the Philippines.  She expressed her appreciation for the Consulate’s  offer and said that her brother’s remains will stay in Texas with the United States Army for proper documentation, medical examination and certification, and will be flown directly to the Philippines from there. The Consulate has assured Eden of its assistance in renewing her passport prior to her flight to the Philippines.

Mrs. Natividad said no specific date has yet been set for the shipment of Ruel’s remains from Texas.   However, Mr. Nicolas Garcia, Ruel’s grandfather, indicated to the Philippine Consulate General that funeral services would be held for Ruel sometime in February in the Philippines.

Chief Warrant Officer Ruel Garcia was born in the Philippines and moved to Hawaii in 1987. He graduated from college in Manila with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He joined the Air Force in 1992. After he became a naturalized American citizen, he transferred to the Army to attend helicopter flight school.

Ruel Garcia is survived by his parents, Rosendo and Cynthia, who live near Manila; his wife Apple, in Texas; his brother Ramisis, in the Philippines; and his sister Eden and grandfather Nicolas, in Hawaii. END