PMA cadet dies saving own brother

CERVANTES, Ilocos Sur – Another hero cadet emerged from the Philippine Military Academy after second class cadet Efren T. Sad-ayan, 29, saved his younger brother from the deep waters of an irrigation dam in this town Wednesday morning.

His deed to save his own brother’s life, however, cost him his own.

Sad-ayan, a native of Mankayan, Benguet, was on vacation since Dec. 26, from his schooling at the National Defense College of Japan. He was with his family enjoying the holidays.

A family gathering at Sitio Bao-angan, Comillas, in southern upland Cervantes became tragic when his younger brother, Bryan Paul, who was swimming at the said irrigation, was about to drown. 

Sad-ayan came to the rescue and saved his younger brother, but he himself was not able to escape the strong currents.

Residents Romando Acyadan and Alvin Ortega found him at the irrigation bed dead.

More than four months ago, another hero cadet- Alfonso Aviles, 23– risked his own life against an armed robber victimizing a passenger jeepney in Quezon City.

He was  going back to V. Luna to oversee the Aug. 16 PMA entrance examinations, being a Manila proctor team member, when he tried to fight the robber in the jeepney.

The armed robber pumped a bullet on Aviles’s head and another on his left cheek which struck his collar bone.

For several weeks, he was on coma but managed to regain consciousness after. – Jerry Padilla