Flags in all military camps nationwide were flown at
half-mast Tuesday to honor the 15 troopers killed in the ongoing operation to
neutralize the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
"(It is) part of our standard practice and tradition in
the Armed Forces of the Philippines everytime our soldiers fell in battle doing
their mission or constitutional mandate," AFP public affairs office chief
Col. Edgard Arevalo said in Filipino.
Placing all flag at half-mast also indicates that the rest
of the military is grieving with the loved and families of the slain troopers,
he added.
"(All soldiers are well) aware of the inherent risk of
their profession, they are aware they can get wounded or killed doing their
mission," Arevalo said.
Aside from the 15 dead in Monday's 4:30 p.m. clash with the
ASG at Sitio Kan Jalul, Barangay Maligay, Patikul, another 12 troopers were
wounded the gunbattle that lasted until 6 p.m.
All of the fallen and wounded troopers were from the 35th
and 21st Infantry Battalions and all were from Sulu and Mindanao ,
the AFP public affairs office chief said.
When asked whether President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to
visit the fallen troopers, Arevalo said they would leave the matter to the
Chief Executive and Malacanang.
"We would like to leave that to the President and to
Malacanang, but so far, if you would look at his practice, (President Duterte
is known) to visit, commiserate and condole with the families and relatives of
those who are slain or who are killed in action while performing their duty. We
supposed that he will be also doing the same this time," he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=918370
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