US embassy denies American soldier died with SAF 44

MANILA, Philippines - The US embassy in Manila denied yesterday reports that a US soldier was among those killed during clashes between police forces and Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

“There were no US service member casualties,” embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer said.

There were reports of a farmer in a remote village in Mamasapano telling the human rights group Suara Bangsamoro that he saw a Caucasian soldier’s body among the dead after the bloody clashes.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also denied that a US serviceman was killed in the encounter.

“I think there’s no truth to that, although we don’t have a report, but I can’t imagine that something like that can happen,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.

“Consistent with our arrangement, the US forces under the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) responded to the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide casualty evacuation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) personnel to Mamapasano, Maguindanao,” he said.

The JSOTF-P conducts bilateral training activities between Philippine security forces under the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Board, Security Engagement Board and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).  – Pia Lee--Brago, John Unson