Slain soldiers flown to Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The remains of six elite soldiers killed on Thursday in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu arrived at the Villamor Air Base yesterday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Noel Deto-yato, Army spokesman, said that the bodies of the slain soldiers, all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG), arrived on a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane.

The slain soldiers were accorded full military honors at Villamor Air Base. The remains were taken to the mortuary of the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City where a wake would be held.

No interment schedule has been set as the families of the slain soldiers will have to decide if they wish to have their fallen loved ones buried at the Libingan or in their respective hometowns.

The remains of one of the soldiers – a Bicolano – for instance, were transported first to Legazpi City before being flown to Manila yesterday.

Mortar rounds fired by the bandits reportedly killed the six soldiers.

Aside from the six JSOG troopers, also killed was Marine 1Lt. Roger Flores of Philippine Military Academy “Masiglahi” Class of 2009.

Flores was killed in an encounter earlier with a band of Abu Sayyaf terrorists headed by Hairula Asbang.

The fighting left 24 soldiers wounded, three of them critically. They had to be airlifted to Camp Navarro military hospital in Zamboanga City for further treatment.

Citing intelligence reports, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said 10 Abu Sayyaf members were also killed in the fighting.

He said the military is pursuing Asbang and his men.