7 Marines who died in clash with Sayyaf honored

MANILA, Philippines - The seven Marines who died in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu last Thursday were honored by their mother unit, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC), at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City yesterday.

PMC spokesman 1Lt. Cherry Tindog said a company of sailors and Marines participated in the ceremony, which highlighted the heroism of the fallen soldiers.

The company consisted of about 70 Navy and Marines personnel.

Members of the Marines’ Drum and Bugle Team, composed of about 30 soldiers, saluted their fallen comrades and played music during the event.

The heroes’ honors, led by Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama and Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, started at about 4 p.m. 

It has been a tradition of the military to bring the bodies of slain soldiers to their mother unit before they are brought to their families to allow the armed forces to recognize the heroic deeds of the soldiers.

The bodies of the slain Marines were flown via C-130 aircraft from Zamboanga City to Villamor Airbase in Pasay last Saturday.

President Aquino, who said the bandits behind their death are the number one enemies in his “radar,” honored them the same day.

The bodies of the fallen soldiers were then brought to the St. Peter’s funeral parlor before they were transferred to Marine headquarters.

Aquino, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. were set to visit the slain soldiers’ wake yesterday evening at the Marine headquarters.

“It was for the fight against terrorism that seven brave Marines gave their lives in pursuit of fulfilling their duty to the nation,” Oban said in a statement.

Guerrero said the beheading of their fallen comrades hurt the Marines. He, however, assured the people that the incident would not affect their efforts against terrorists like the Abu Sayyaf.

“Of course, masama ang loob namin (we were hurt). But we are professionals, we will do what is necessary,” he said.

The Marine commandant also branded as “barbaric” the atrocities committed by the local terrorists.

“That is the brand of barbarism the Abu Sayyaf has been doing in several of our encounters. They desecrate the bodies of our companions. This is very far from what we are doing to their dead comrades. We follow the Islamic rites on burial,” Guerrero said.