AFP: Remains of 15 soldiers slain in Basilan flown to Manila

Fifteen of the 19 soldiers who were killed in a clash with secessionist rebels in Basilan last Tuesday are expected to arrive in Manila Friday afternoon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. In an entry on its Facebook account, the AFP said the bodies of four other victims will remain in Mindanao, where their families are based. "We value their ultimate sacrifice," the AFP said. The AFP said those expected to arrive Friday afternoon at Villamor Air Base include:

1Lt. Colt Alsiyao 1Lt. Vladimir Maninang 2Lt. Jose Delfin Khe Sgt. Ronald Sta. Rita Cpl. Roderick Cabanua Pfc. Mark Ted Quiban Pfc. Reny Arciaga Pfc. Romel Ondovilla Pfc. Roberto Recafrance Pfc. Jones Regor Pfc. Jobert Miguel Pfc. Jordan Olivar Pfc. Emerson Tugas Pfc. Jordan Magno Pfc. Dennis Bolan

The other four were:

1Lt. Frank Junder Caminos Sgt. Andy Bonifacio Mabalot Pfc. Ervin Dequito Ptv. Garry Colonia

The 19 were killed in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces in Basilan. While the MILF insisted the soldiers encroached into the secessionists' territory, the military belied this claim. The clash prompted several calls to scrap the peace process between the government and MILF rebels, but President Benigno Aquino III rejected these demands. — LBG, GMA News