ZAMBOANGA CITY, April 14 — President Aquino visited on Wednesday the wake of a soldier who died in combat in Basilan last Saturday assuring his family of government support.
The President arrived in Barangay Ayala and met the family of Cpl. Rodelio Bangcairin, one of the casualties of the bloody encounter in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
Bangcairin, 40, is survived by his wife and two children ages 12 and 3. He is a member of the Philippine Army and has served the military for 16 years, according to his family.
After his visit in Barangay Ayala, the President also met the wounded soldiers in Camp Navarro General Hospital inside the Western Mindanao Command.
Thirty-eight soldiers, who sustained minor injuries, are confined at Camp Navarro General Hospital for treatment. The President also went to Edwin Andrews Air Base Hospital to meet six soldiers who are confined there.
Medical staffs from Camp Navarro General Hospital said there is a total of 53 wounded soldiers during the encounter in Basilan on April 9.
Aside from those confined in military hospitals here in Zamboanga City, other wounded soldiers are recuperating in other private hospitals here and some were flown to V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City.
Eighteen soldiers died in the clash in Basilan, which according to the military was a result of the continuing military offensive against the Islamic militants.
Military officials said they started the operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in November last year. They vowed to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf first before organizing a board of inquiry to get to the bottom of the bloody Basilan encounter.
The 1st Infantry Division said it received unconfirmed reports that 28 Abu Sayyaf members were killed in the ongoing military operations in Basilan. (PCOO/PND)