Soldiers killed in Mindoro clash honored

MANILA, Philippines - The military honored yesterday the 11 soldiers killed in an encounter with elements of the New People’s Army last week in Oriental Mindoro. 

The bodies of the fallen members of the 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company were brought to the Army headquarters in Taguig City and were given military honors in a ceremony attended by around 1,000 military and civilian personnel.

“Maybe for some, the encounter paved way for a great loss. But this is a success of the Philippine Army because we have proven our love for the country,” said Army chief and incoming Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit in a statement.

“After verifying reports of extortion, the troop decided to go head on. They wasted no time and operated against the enemy larger than their own force. We were able to suppress the continued extortion of the NPA bandits,” he said.

The Army said the 11 soldiers were the first casualty in its campaign for credible elections, noting that their operation was intended to foil NPA’s collection of money from candidates in exchange of campaign permits.

The soldiers’ families will receive death benefits and financial assistance from the AFP including monthly pension, commutation of leave balances, insurances, and educational grants.

Malacañang, through the Presidential Management Staff, is also expected to give each family cash benefit worth P250,000. The amount is on top of the financial assistance to be given by the Philippine Army.

In a phone interview, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the soldiers will also be awarded posthumously with military medals of merit.

Eleven soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded after suspected communist insurgents ambushed a platoon of the Army’s 23rd Division Reconnaissance Company in Barangay Panaytayan in Mansalay town on Saturday. – Alexis Romero