Manila: Six government soldiers were chopped to death after they were held hostage by rebels, when government soldiers and members of a local terror group clashed in the southern Philippines last Tuesday, according to a TV report.
"The bodies of the six soldiers who were held hostage by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Albarka, Basilan were chopped to death. It was a good thing the soldiers were not beheaded," Amry spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade told GMA News.
"Why was it necessary for them to kill the soldiers? We expected the MILF to keep the soldiers alive. One body had fresh blood. It means he was killed on Wednesday," said Parlade.
At the same time, the MILF's territory was four kilometers away from the scene of the clash between government soldiers and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group. "Why were the MILF at the encounter site?" Parlade asked.
The six soldiers were captured by the Abu Sayyaf members. They were disarmed and turned over to the MILF, and soon, "they were killed," said Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo B. Ortiz.
The Philippine military has formally filed a complaint to the ceasefire committee of the government and the MILF, regarding alleged violation of the ceasefire agreement signed by the two parties in 2003.
At the same time, several soldiers who survived the incident talked about their harrowing experience during a clash with the Abu Sayyaf that began at five in the morning until after lunch on Tuesday.
"We were surrounded before we could get to the high ground. Fires came from our back, in front of us, on our left and on our right side," said Private First Class Mario Flora while recuperating in a hospital.
"We were besieged by about 400 members of the Abu Sayyaf," said Flora, adding their mission was to rescue a kidnapped victim.
"The helicopter that came as reinforcement could not land because it was met by rocket propeller gunship," said Flora.
At the same time, private First Class Joseph Muico said, "I focused on assisting my fellow soldiers when I noticed there was not enough ammunition."
Meanwhile, Private First Class (PFC) Michael Natividad, who was found near a swamp on Wednesday, said he swam several kilometres away from the scene of the clash, to escape being killed.
There were conflicting reports on the number of fatalities in the clash. The MILF said that 22 government soldiers and seven MILF rebels were killed. But the government said that 19 soldiers and nine MILF rebels were killed.
Four of the slain government soldiers were officers. One of them, Ist Lt. Vladimir Maninang was scheduled to ask for the hand of his girl-friend in Santiago, Isabela in northern Luzon by end of October.
Another officer was Jose Delfin Khe. His mother Estelita Khe said, "My son sent me a text message before the clash and said he and his companions underwent a one day rigorous training in scuba diving. He was not in a fighting form when the clash happened."
The bodies of the soldiers will arrive in Manila on Friday. They will be placed at the military gym in Fort Bonifacio in suburban Taguig.
They will be accorded military honours and will be buried at the National Heroes Cemetery. Their relatives will be given financial assistance, said authorities.
Because of the defeat suffered by the military, Lt. Col. Leo Peña, the commander of the special forces in Basilan, was relieved. He was replaced by Lt. Col. Jose Laplap, deputy at the special operations task force in the province.
The military has also formed a board of investigators, led by Maj. Gen. Ireneo C. Espino, to find out why the military was defeated.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban ordered an inspector-general to go to Basilan and investigate the incident.
