AFP honor up on 2 Ilonggo soldiers killed in Basilan encounter
Awards for gallantry are underway for families of two Ilonggo soldiers recently killed in action in Basilan.
The conferment will come from no less than Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon.
This, as the bodies of the slain soldiers were brought in from Mindanao, the latest that of Corporal Peary Seniros of Barangay Aglanut, Dumarao, Capiz. The other casualty was from Negros Occidental.
Both soldiers cum heroes were members of the Philippine Marine's 1st Reconnaissance Unit who figured in an encounter in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, Commanding Officer of the AFP's 3rd Civil Relations Unit confirmed the report while saying that the deaths of the two soldiers further strengthens the AFP's resolve to bring peace to Basilan.
"We would also like to seek the support of the Church especially the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to help us pray for our soldiers," Captain Marquez said in a The News Today (TNT) interview. "They are risking their lives so peace will reign in Mindanao and in the country."
The AFP award for gallantry in action will recognize the Ilonggo soldiers' efforts beyond the call of duty.
Meantime calls for similar support from the AFP here are also out on the continued government offensive in Basilan.
To recall, nine Ilonggo Marines from support units here in Western Visayas were sent to serve as part of the select augmentation forces in ongoing government operations in Basilan.
Primary mission of the group was to help 'avenge' the violent deaths and bring justice to three Ilonggo comrades initially 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 AFP here underwent similar consideration.
The government offensive is an 'aftershock' of the violent deaths of fourteen Marine soldiers who 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 Marquez then 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 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."