Sara, AFP chief visit wake of slain soldiers

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte as well as Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. have visited the wake of four Army soldiers killed in an ambush in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Duterte went to the wake on Monday and extended financial support to the families of the fatalities.

Brawner visited the wake at a chapel of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte yesterday.

Brawner assured the families of the slain soldiers of assistance.

Brawner and Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, gave assurance that efforts to identify perpetrators are underway.

“Justice will be served in due time,” Brawner said.

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim condemned the attack as a “cowardly act of violence that undermined the hard-won peace and stability in our region.”

“The actions of these peace spoilers seek nothing but to sow discord and create mistrust among our people,”Ebrahim said. ”Such actions do not represent the dreams and aspirations of our people for an empowered, cohesive and progressive Bangsamoro.”

The soldiers were on their way to their command post when they were attacked by suspected members of the terrorist Dawlah Islamiya on Sunday. President Marcos has vowed justice for the slain troopers.