House helps kin of 19 soldiers slain in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has extended financial assistance to the families of 19 soldiers killed in an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters in Al-Barka, Basilan on Oct. 18, 2011.    

“The entire nation mourns the death of these brave soldiers, who had laid down their lives in the call of duty,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. told the soldiers’ families, defense and military official, and his colleagues.

He and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II handed P60,000 to each of the 19 slain soldiers’ families in ceremonies at the Speaker’s conference room on Tuesday.

The financial assistance is provided under Resolution 226 authored by Belmonte himself and adopted unanimously by the House last July 31.

According to the resolution, the small assistance is “an expression of deep gratitude and appreciation” for the “heroism and sacrifice in the service of their country” of the soldiers massacred in Al-Barka.

House members contributed voluntarily to the fund that was distributed among the soldiers’ families.

The slain soldiers were 1Lt. Vladimir Maninang, 1Lt. Colt Alsiyao, 1Lt. Frank Junder Caminos, 2Lt. Jose Delfin Khe, Sgt. Ronal Sta. Rita, Sgt. Andy Bonifacio Mabalot, Cpl. Roderick Cabucana, Pfcs. Mark Ted Quiban, Jonis Rigor, Jordan Magno, Jordan Olivar, Renei Arciga, Rommel Ondivilla, Michael Miguel, Emerson Tugas, Roberto Ricafranca, Dennis Bulan, and Ervin Dequito, and Pvt. Garry Colonia.

According to the military’s Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City, the troops were sent to Al-Barka to check on the presence of an armed group that was reportedly holding kidnap victims.

A certain Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who is said to be a commander of the MILF, was the leader of the group. The military claims that Asnawi was involved in the beheading of 14 Marine soldiers during a 2007 clash, also in Al-Barka.

He was arrested in the aftermath of the beheading but escaped from the Basilan provincial jail in December 2009 with 30 other prisoners.

An Army spokesman, Col. Antonio Parlade, said the wounded soldiers reported they saw their comrades captured alive after running out of ammunition.

“They were captured and then killed,” he said.

The government has signed a framework agreement for peace with the MILF. The two sides are now finalizing a peace accord.