9 Ilonggo Marines off to Basilan to help in operations vs. Muslim terrorists
Nine Ilonggo Marines from support units here in Western Visayas are off to serve as part of the select augmentation forces in ongoing government operations in Basilan.
Primary mission of the trio? To help 'avenge' the violent deaths and bring justice to three Ilonggo comrades brutally killed by Muslim terrorists.
Dubbed as the country's "The Few and The Proud," the Ilonggo Marine contingent was carefully chosen as yet other teams of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here underwent similar consideration.
To recall, fourteen Marine soldiers were ambushed, tortured and executed by the Muslim terrorists amidst the rescue operations for a kidnapped Italian priest.
Marine soldiers Cpl Jonnard Alianza of Aklan, Cpl Emilio Lachica of Negros and Pfc Freddie Palma Jr. Pavia, Iloilo were among the hapless victims.
"Following the go-signal to serve the arrest warrants of the 130 suspects on the beheading of ten Marine soldiers, the government is preparing for the evacuation of the people should there be an outbreak of fighting or hostilities. There are no military operations yet as contingency measures are being undertaken for the evacuees," the AFP in a news release through Captain Lowen Gil Marquez said.
After the Basilan operation, the nine whose identities were withheld for security reasons are expected to be back to their respective units here in the region.
"The military has been ready to assist the Philippine National Police in serving the arrest warrants. Presently, the AFP is participating in the coordination meeting to prepare contingency measures in Basilan including the matter on the evacuation of residents," Captain Marquez, 3rd Civil Relations Group Commanding Officer added. "It has been reported that some residents have fled their homes over the past weeks for fear of being caught in the crossfire."
As such, Captain Marquez stressed that the AFP is there to ensure safety of the locals.
"Our soldiers shall exert and exhaust every effort to ensure that the children, women, the elderly and innocent civilians are properly shielded from the effects of the probable outbreak of hostilities," he said. "The government is serious in punishing the perpetrators behind the beheadings of the ten Marines. As the AFP intends to bring the full force of the law, the suspects should be able to perceive that the arrest warrants will basically give them the chance to clear their names."