Palace, AFP mourn soldiers' deaths, vow justice

Malacañang on Wednesday vowed justice as it expressed condolences to the families of the 13 soldiers who were killed in Tuesday’s bloody encounter between government troops and suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Basilan. "Nakikiramay po tayo sa pamilya na naiwan ng ating magigiting na sundalo. Nakakalungkot po 'yung mga ganitong pangyayari kahit sabihin po nating sila ay sundalo at sa inaraw-araw ng kanilang trabaho na humaharao sila sa peligro," said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte at a press briefing on Wednesday. This, as President Benigno Aquino III scheduled a command conference on Friday to discuss the clash. "I have called for a command conference on Friday when the Secretary of National Defense [Voltaire Gazmin] arrives to precisely tackle the issue," he said in a statement. Valte assured the military and the soldiers' families that there will be no whitewash in the case despite the fact that the government is talking peace with the MILF, the largest secessionist group in the country. "Nakikisa po kami dun sa kanila (sundalo)… Alam ko may isang kapatid na sundalo na nagsasabing natatakot silang baka magkaroon ng whitewash, hindi po 'yun mangyayari," she said. Flags at half-mast In major military camps all over the country, flags flew at half-mast as the Armed Forces of the Philippines mourned the death of the 13 soldiers. In an entry on its Facebook account, the AFP relayed its condolences to the families of the 13, saying their death "will not be in vain." "Team AFP extends its sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones left by 13 brave men who died in the Basilan encounter. Their death will not be in vain, as they have honorably served the country and the Filipinos. The AFP mourns with the family members with Flags in all major AFP camps in half-mast," it said. 8 missing soldiers As of Wednesday, eight soldiers were still being held captive by the armed men in an area in Basilan considered an MILF territory. Valte said the government is working on the recovery of the soldiers. The military said it will "employ peaceful measures and launch search and rescue operations" for the eight soldiers who it said are "missing in action." Valte refused to give other details on the incident as they are still waiting for more details to get a clearer picture of the clash. She said AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. has asked the Inspector General to go to Basilan to ascertain the facts. Sensitive issue Asked if President Benigno Aquino III, who met with the leader of the MILF in Japan last August, has already issued an instruction to pursue whoever is responsible for the killing of the soldiers, Valte said they are concentrating on getting the facts straight first as there were conflicting details on the report provided to them. "Kinukuha muna ang lahat ng detalye. Pag naibigay na po ‘yun saka tayo pwedeng magbigay ng komento," she said. Asked if Aquino has plans to go to Basilan, Valte said she is not aware of any. She also said the Palace will just let the negotiators from the government and the MILF to deal with the incident in connection with the peace talks. "Sensitive ang peace process kaya ayaw nating magsabi ng kahit anong kumentong baka hindi makatulong sa ating proseso kaya hinahayaan na kapag nagkakaroon ng insidenteng ganito, it will be taken up with the counterparts doon sa ating peace panel," she said. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News