US Embassy denies American soldier killed in Mamasapano

From GMA News (Sep 15): US Embassy denies American soldier killed in Mamasapano

The United States Embassy denied on Tuesday that an American soldier was among those killed in the counter-terrorism operation that led to the death of a wanted Southeast Asian terrorist and 44 elite commandos in Mamasapano town early this year.

"There were no US service member casualties," US Embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer said in a statement.

Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan,  was killed in the operation, but as the police pulled out, an encounter with Muslim rebels erupted, killing 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.

"The operation was planned and executed by Philippine authorities," Hoyer said. "We refer you to them for details of the operation."

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the government should check the authenticity of a video showing supposed proof that the January 25 Mamasapano encounter also resulted in at least one American casualty.

The video, according to a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, supposedly shows a slain "Caucasian-looking" man stripped down to his underwear.

The man is said to be a member of the US military who got involved in an encounter between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force in Mamasapano on January 25.

"Let's take a look at that video. Caucasian ba talaga? And if that video is authentic, Caucasian ba talaga ang nandoon?" De Lima told reporters.

Cooperation between the Philippines and the US has successfully led to the killing of key local terrorists in Mindanao.

"The U.S. government consults regularly with Philippine security forces on issues of mutual interest,"  Hoyer said.

Assistance provided by US personnel serving under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, he explained, were made upon the request of the Philippine government. 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/536973/news/nation/us-embassy-denies-american-soldier-killed-in-mamasapano