• President Aquino offered his sincere apologies to the families of the 18 soldiers killed in Basilan
• He met the family members of the slain soldiers in a close-door meeting in Zamboanga
• Aquino promised all the families the full benefits due them
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday, April 13, met with relatives of the 18 soldiers killed in the day-long clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan over the weekend.
The president, in a close-door meeting inside the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga, personally expressed his condolences to the grieving kin of the brave soldiers and promised to pursue justice for them.
“Nakikiramay ang ating Presidente. Pumunta siya rito para personally magbigay ng pugay sa mga naulilang asawa ng ating mga kasundaluhan,” Major Gen. Gerardo Barrientos, commander of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division, told reporters after the President’s hour-long meeting with the soldiers’ relatives at the Edwin Andrews Air Base.
[The president is expressing his condolences. He came here personally to sympathize with the bereaved spouses of the soldiers]
RJ Rosalado of ABS-CBN Zamboanga wrote in his article dated April 13, 2016 that among the family members of the slain soldiers who met with the president is Rosalinda Dominguez.
Dominguez related that President Aquino sounded very apologetic and appeared sincere in giving his promises to the bereaved families. She said she accepted the president’s apologies.
The president promised the families the full benefits due them, which includes P250,000 from the Office of the President. They will also get full support from the Philippine Army, including P80,000 for burial assistance.
President Aquino also offered scholarship to children of the fallen soldiers.
Another widow, Ledelina Labial, said she also accepted President Aquino’s apologies and the fate of her husband, Cpl. Dioniso Labial.
Death is one of the risks soldiers have to face, she said.
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