BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends…” (John 15:13, the Holy Bible).

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    YOUNG NOYNOY AMBUSHED IN 1987: Filipinos now know that when military rebels staged an armed uprising in 1987 against the government of President Corazon Aquino, her only son, Noynoy, the President of the Republic now, was ambushed and seriously wounded by enemy fire as he was on his way to Malacanang at the height of the skirmishes.

    But not many know that President Noynoy’s life, after that daring ambush, was saved by a team of three doctors who were then reserved medical officers of the Presidential Security Group under the command then of Col. Voltaire Gazmin, now the current Secretary of the Department of National Defense.

    One of the three doctors is now dead, but one of them, Dr. Alex Abelardo S. Fider, is still alive and still practicing medicine in the United States. Dr. Fider, a fraternity brod of mine from the UP Sigma Rho Fraternity, could still vividly recall how the young Noynoy was operated on, and ultimately treated of his ambush wounds.

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    YOUNG NOYNOY SAVED BY HIS SECURITY DETAIL: For whatever it is worth, here is Dr. Fider’s account, sent to me via email: “I was a member of the triad that operated on Noynoy Aquino's ambush gunshot wounds (neck, shoulder and body) by the rebel RAM forces during the failed coup d'etat in 1987.

“Noynoy Aquino's life was saved by his six security details by piling (themselves) one on top of each other to shield Noynoy Aquino from the barrage of gunfire. He played possum until everything was quiet and safe to flee to the PSG side.

“We have brods (RhoSigs) in the government, Malacanang, Congress and Judiciary. I never realized that our patient would be the President of the Philippines now. I am now a United States citizen but I could not forget being a Filipino also. I believe that our lives are in accordance with God's will.

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UNSUNG HEROES: “I am just honored to be a part of our President's life to guide and lead our country. The head of the medical/surgical team was Major Merlin Cipriano, deceased, a much respected general surgeon; Captain Antonio Acosta, Jr., one of the best spinal surgeons and yours truly, Captain Alex Fider, orthopedic surgeon.

“We were all reserve medical officers then as Col. Voltaire Gazmin, Commanding Officer of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) of the late President Corazon Aquino, ordered a news blackout as he was not sure who the active regular officers were on their side or who were on the other side.

“We have served the PSG without any remuneration or award. Dr. Cipriano died without the fanfare of a celebrity. We were the unsung heroes and non-opportunistic people as we have our career and calling.…” More of this in the next issue.

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REACTIONS? FREE ADVICE? Call me at 0917 984 24 68 or 0922 833 43 96, or email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.


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Duktor ng batang Noynoy noong 1987, Part I


INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…Wala ng pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaysa dito: ang pag-aalay ng buhay para sa mga kaibigan…” (Juan 15:13, Bibliya).

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    BATANG NOYNOY, INAMBUSH NOONG 1987: Alam ng maraming Pilipino na noong mag-aklas ang mga rebeldeng militar noong 1987 laban kay Pangulong Corazon Aquino, ang kanyang tanging anak na lalaki, si Noynoy (ang Pangulo ng Republika sa ngayon), ay inambush at nagtamo ng grabeng mga sugat mula sa bala ng mga kalaban.

    Pero hindi lahat ay nakakaalam na ang buhay ng Pangulong Noynoy, matapos ang ambush, ay naisalba ng tatlong duktor na noon ay nakatalaga bilang mga reserved medical offers ng Presidential Security Group na pinamumunuan noon ni Col. Voltaire Gazmin (ang Kalihim ngayon ng Department of National Defense).

    Ang isa sa tatlong duktor na ito ay namayapa na, pero ang isa sa kanila, si Dr. Alex Abelardo S. Fider, ay buhay pa at sa ngayon ay nanggagamot pa sa Estados Unidos. Sariwa pa sa alaala ni Dr. Fider (brod ko sa UP Sigma Rho Fraternity) kung papaanong inoperahan niya at ng kanyang mga kasama ang batang si Noynoy, at mailigtas ito sa kanyang mga sugat.

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    NOYNOY, INILIGTAS NG KANYANG SECURITY DETAIL: Para sa kapakinabangan ng lahat, naririto ang kuwento ni Dr. Fider, na ipinadala sa akin sa email: “Kasama ako ng tatlong duktor na umopera sa mga sugat na tinamo ni Noynoy Aquino (leeg, balikat at katawan) mula sa ng mga rebeldeng RAM noong kudeta ng 1987.

 “Nailigtas si Noynoy Aquino ng kanyang anim na security detail noon, sa pamamagitan ng pagdagan kay Noynoy upang harangan ang mga putok laban sa kanya. Nagkunwari siyang patay hanggang tumahimik ang kapaligiran at ligtas na siyang nakabalik sa PSG.

“May mga brods (RhoSigs) sa gobyerno, Malacanang, Kongreso at Hudikatura. Hindi ko inakala na ang aming pasyente noon ay magiging Pangulo ng Pilipinas ngayon. Ako ay isang ng citizen ng Estados Unidos pero hindi ko makakalimutan na Pilipino pa din ako. Naniniwala akong ang mga buhay natin ay ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos.

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MGA DI-NAKILALANG BAYANI: “Labis ang karangalang nadarama ko na ako ay naging bahagi ng buhay ng Pangulo na siya ngayong gumagabay at namumuno sa bansa. Ang pinuno ng medical/surgical team namin ay si Major Merlin Cipriano, na ngayon ay patay na, at isa sa mga pinaka-respetadong general surgeon; Captain Antonio Acosta jr., isa sa mga pinakamahusay na spinal surgeons; at ako, Captain Alex Fider, orthopedic surgeon.

“Lahat kami ay mga reserve medical officers noon sa ilalim ni Col. Voltaire Gazmin, ang commanding officer ng Presidential Security Group noon, na nag-utos ng isang news blackout dahil hindi siya sigurado kung sino ang mga sundalong kakampi o kaaway noon.

“Nagsilbi kami sa PSG ng walang bayad o pagkilala man lang. Namatay si Dr. Cipriano ng walang pagkilalang tinanggap. Kami ang mga hindi nakilala o naparangalang mga bayani, mga taong hindi nagsamantala sa oportunidad sapagkat mayroon naman kaming mga sariling career…” May dugtong pa po ito.

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REAKSIYON? LIBRENG PAYO? Tumawag po sa 0917 984 24 68 o 0922 833 43 96, o mag-email sa batasmauricio@yahoo.com.