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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Remains of fallen Marines brought home
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The remains of 14 of 15 slain Marine soldiers were airlifted to Villamor Airbase Monday afternoon en route to their respective hometowns.
One of the slain Marine soldiers, an officer, was brought to his residence in Zamboanga City following a ceremony held at the chapel inside the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwesmin) headquarters.
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The remains were airlifted by a C-130 air force place from the Edwin Andrews Air Base accompanied by some military officials and relatives of the fallen soldiers.
The band of the Air Force's 3rd Tactical Wing played "Bayan Ko" as a tribute to the fallen soldiers while their remains were being unloaded to the C-130 plane.
Ungkaya Pukan Mayor Joel Maturan said he is proud of the Marines for their efforts in pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits who ambushed on July 10 a convoy of soldiers Al-Barka, Basilan.
Fourteen, 10 of them beheaded, were killed in the July 10 ambush in Al-Barka while nine others were injured.
Ungkaya Pukan is a newly created town adjacent to Al-Barka in Basilan province.
The 15 slain marines, five of them officers, were killed in intense fighting that occurred last Saturday in Sitio Kurelem, Barangay Selangkun, Ungkaya Pukan.
Military troops under the Task Force Thunder on Monday combed Ungkaya Pukan hinterlands in search for the lair of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
On Monday, the troops bombarded the area with 105-mm howitzers aimed at softening the positions of the Abu Sayyaf.
A military official disclosed that there is a lull in the fighting but troops continued searching and sealing all possible escape routes of the bandits. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (August 21, 2007 issue)
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