Army’s 1ID commander says due honors were given to slain soldiers

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 14): Army’s 1ID commander says due honors were given to slain soldiers

The commander of the 1st Infantry ”Tabak” Division has refuted reports that no tribute was paid to the slain soldiers in the recent skirmish between government troops and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province.

MGen. Gerardo F. Barrientos, Jr., who joined the convoy of President Benigno Aquino III during his recent visit in the city, said the soldiers were given honors due to them.

“Kung honors lang, sobra sobra yong ibinigay natin sa ating mga namayapang sundalo. We have all documented these things. And all these documents are readily available sa ating public affairs office,” said Barrientos.

(We have given much tribute to the slain soldiers. We have documented these things. And all these documents are readily available in the Army’s public affairs office)

“Mayroon tayong ceremonial send-off ceremony, although we haven’t showed it on public. Ang appropriate honors nito lalong lalo na paglibing, pagdating doon sa kanilang mga areas binigyan din ng appropriate honors. Paglibing nito, yun yong full honors na ibibigay natin,” he further explained.

Soldiers who fought with the ASG in the Basilan clash belong to the 44th Infantry Battalion, the 4th Special Forces Battalion, and 14th Cavalry troops.

The encounter had cost 18 lives from the Army, recorded as the biggest death toll in a single military operation since 2011.

Barrientos said the families of the soldiers who were killed in action in the Basilan clash were given due support and assistance by the government and the Philippine Army (PA).

“Nakita namin kanina na medyo appeased naman sila dahil nakikita nila na hindi sila pinapabayaan ng pamunuan,” said Barrientos.

(We saw that the families of the soldiers felt appeased having been informed of the assistance of the government.)

President Aquino visited the wounded soldiers recuperating at Camp Navarro and Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB) hospitals and met with the families of the slain government troops to personally inform them of the financial assistance of the government.

Barrientos said “una sa lahat nakikiramay ang ating Presidente. Pumunta siya rito personally nagbigay ng pugay sa mga naulilang asawa ng ating mga kasundaluhan. Pangalawa, ipinaaabot niya rin ang mga tulong pinansyal na gustong ipaabot ng Office of the President, maliban doon sa mga benefits na makukuha nila sa Philippine Army.”

(The President wants to extend his sympathies personally to the bereaved families and give honor to the slain soldiers. Second, he wanted to inform the wives of the financial assistance they will receive from the Office of the President, aside from that of the Philippine Army)

Meanwhile, Barrientos said they are continuously monitoring the presence of the ASG in Basilan and are still awaiting further reports from the operational forces in the area.

“Some of the information that reached us are still subject for verification, especially since most of the reports are still unclear,” he said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2831460599903/army-s-1id-commander-says-due-honors-were-given-to-slain-soldiers