Rommel Sandoval

Sandoval was a graduate of Bauan High School (now Bauan College) class of 1996,{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} and he was also a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy's Class of 2005.

{{main|Battle of Marawi}}

File:Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte saluting the casket of Capt Rommel Sandoval KIA Battle of Marawi.jpg pays his last respects to Captain Rommel Sandoval, September 11, 2017.]]

Sandoval had spent over three months in the siege of Marawi without losing a single one of his men. His command, the 11th Scout Ranger Company, had not had a single casualty since their deployment. In August 2017, he had saved a group of Scout Rangers who had been trapped in a building in the main battle area. Under his instructions, they had exfiltrated the building using an armored personnel carrier and escaped the Maute group.{{cite news | last = Bajo | first =Anna Felicia | title =Marawi war veterans recall Captain Sandoval's heroism |work=GMA News| date = 25 October 2017 | url =http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/630885/marawi-war-veterans-recall-captain-sandoval-s-heroism/story/ | accessdate = 27 December 2017}}

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On September 10, 2017, Sandoval's company was tasked with retaking a stronghold of the Islamic militants. The building, a 5-storey commercial complex called C&D Centerpoint, was occupied by a branch of the Land Bank of the Philippines prior to the siege. It was referred to by the Philippine military as part of the militants' final defensive position and was defended by more than 26 militants.{{cite news | last = Fonbuena | first =Carmela | title =Troops penetrate Maute defensive position in Marawi |work=Rappler| date = 11 September 2017 | url =https://www.rappler.com/nation/181804-marawi-battle-troops-recover-tall-buildings | accessdate = 27 December 2017}}

Sandoval's men began clearing the building from top to bottom. After clearing the fifth to the second storeys, they were about to enter the ground level when a burst of gunfire wounded Corporal Jayson Mante. His two other companions managed to quickly withdraw to the safety of the building's second storey, but Mante's injury prevented his own escape. Several failed attempts to rescue Mante transpired, during which time he was wounded several more times. At this point, Sandoval himself found an alternate route by which to approach and rescue Mante. He ordered his men to provide suppressive fire while he and another soldier, Private First Class Sherwin Canapi, attempted the rescue. As he reached the wounded soldier, Sandoval checked the latter's pulse and tried to pull him to safety. Sandoval was first wounded in his side. He returned fire but was then shot in the cheek, which proved fatal. He managed to crawl on top of Mante, shielding him from enemy fire. His body was later found to have bullets lodged in the chest, proving that he had protected Mante from getting further hit. Canapi was also killed in the rescue attempt.{{cite news | last =Dempsey | first =Reyes | title =Top Ranger rescuing soldier shot dead by Maute Group |work=The Manila Times| date = 12 September 2017 | url =http://www.manilatimes.net/top-ranger-rescuing-soldier-shot-dead-maute-group/350289/ | accessdate = 27 December 2017}}

Captain Sandoval was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on September 15, 2017. He was conferred the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor, the highest award conferred to members of the AFP, on December 20, 2017.{{cite news | last =Dizon | first =Nikko | title =Marawi hero awarded highest AFP medal |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer| date = 21 December 2017 | url =https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/954020/marawi-hero-awarded-highest-afp-medal | accessdate = 27 December 2017}}

Sandoval was married to Maria Ana Rosario "Ani" Ello Sandoval. He was said to have been a talented artist; an illustrator, painter and wood carver who also had a passion for bonsai.

Actor Zanjoe Marudo played the role of Sandoval and also his wife, Ani was played by actress Kim Chiu in the anthology series Maalaala Mo Kaya episode "Tangke" last March 10, 2018 dedicated for the story about Marawi Siege.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8120538/plotsummary/ "Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tangke" on IMDB]

• Arturo B. Ortiz
• Noel S. Buan

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{{Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor recipients}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandoval, Rommel B.}}

Category:Philippine Army personnel

Category:Recipients of the Philippine Medal of Valor

Category:Philippine Military Academy alumni

Category:Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor

Category:1979 births

Category:2017 deaths

Category:Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani