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By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
The Marines who survived an
ambush in Basilan last week saw how some of their fallen comrades
were beheaded by their attackers, officials said Sunday.
The attackers also took the
soldiers’ valuables and personal belongings, including jewelry,
money and mobile phones, officials said.
Of the 14 Marines killed in the
clash, 10 were beheaded or had their bodies mutilated.
Marine commandant Maj. Gen.
Nelson Allaga said the beheading of the wounded troops were cruel,
sadistic and cowardly.
“That is sadism… but it’s
even a cowardly act by standards… the wounded saw how the others
were hacked,” Allaga told reporters.
The Marine spokesman, Lt. Col.
Ariel Caculitan, said that aside from looting the dead soldiers, the
attackers used the mobile phone of one the fallen Marines to send a
message to his wife.
“We have beheaded your
husband,” said Caculitan, quoting the text message.
Allaga added that the attackers
also cut off the ears, hands and legs of some of the dead troops.
Last week, there were reports that even the sex organs of some of
the troopers were sliced off.
The outnumbered Marines fought on
for nearly seven hours.
On Sunday the 14 Marines killed
in the ambush in Tipo-Tipo town were given full military honors at
the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio where their remains were
brought.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front
admitted its forces had clashed with the Marines, but denied they
were the ones behind the atrocities.
The Marines maintained the
attackers were members of the Abu Sayyaf joined by lawless elements
in Basilan.
Their remains will be at the
Bonifacio Naval Station gymnasium until Monday, after which they
will be flown to their hometowns for a hero’s burial.
Killed were Privates First Class
Reuben Doronio Jr. from Cebu City and Freddie Palma Jr. from Pavia,
Iloilo; Private Emilio Lachica Jr. from Zamboanga City; Staff
Sergeant Bernard Abes from Bonga, Tawi-Tawi; Technical Sergeant Noel
Bautista from Tagum City; Sergeant Gerardo Licup from Sto. Domingo,
Albay; Sergeant Cayetano Simbangon from San Josefa, Agusan del Sur:
Pfcs. Elizar Semeniano from Tacloban City, Arjorin Alezar from
Puerto Princesa City, Jhonard Allanza from Mandung Bulan, Aklan and
Willfredo Lamban from Sultan Kudarat; Sergeant Rey Callueng from
Tuguegarao City; Cpl. Russel Panaga from Libon, Albay; and Pfc.
Emmanuel Beup from Brook’s Point, Palawan.
The soldiers’ family will each
get a P100,000 from President Arroyo and P15,000 in burial and
special financial assistance.
The families will also get a
house and lot and scholarships for their dependents.
The slain Marines will also be
given a posthumous promotion and a still-undetermined posthumous
combat award.
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