A company of President's guard to deploy to Basilan

A company of the Presidential Security Group on Saturday will leave the confines of Malacañang Palace in Manila to go to the restive southern Philippines island-province of Basilan to join military forces massing up to go after those behind the killing of 14 Marines last week. “I and the rest of the PSG are one with the Filipino nation in its campaign to stop terrorism. The PSG is therefore giving its all out support to the AFP and the government in their continuous effort to suppress these acts of terrorism tat have been plaguing the country," said PSG commander Brigadier General Romeo Prestoza. A company is comprised of about 100 men. Prestoza added that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo directed him to extend whatever support the PSG can to Armed Forces operations in Basilan, including the sending of troops. The PSG contingent will be sent off in ceremonies at the Kalayaan park in Malacañang on Saturday morning. About 100 Marines last July 10 were reportedly on their way back to camp after searching for kidnapped Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in Tipo-tipo town when they were attacked by hundreds of gunmen. The Marines brought back four dead and declared 10 others missing in action, who were later found beheaded and mutilated. The military initially blamed the Abu Sayyaf Group but the MILF owned up to the attack, saying their forces were simply defending their territory from the military’s encroachment. The MILF disowned the beheadings, which the group slammed as “barbaric," while insisting that 23 Marines were killed. The MILF said five of its members and a Muslim cleric also died in the clash. -GMANews.TV