Remains of Marines slain in Sulu clash with Abu Sayyaf brought to Fort Bonifacio barracks

The remains of seven Philippine Marines slain in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu last Saturday were brought to the Marines barracks in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City early Monday.

 

A convoy led by a military police vehicle left the St. Peter Memorial Chapel at 6:45 a.m. en route to the Marines barracks, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

 

People at the funeral home were silent and respectful as the convoy departed for Fort Bonifacio, the report added.

 

A separate report by dzBB's Mao dela Cruz said the convoy arrived at 8 a.m. and the remains of the seven were given funeral honors as they were brought to the Marine Corps auditorium.

 

The convoy bore the remains of 2Lt. Alfredo Lorin VI, and Pfc. Dominador Sabijon Jr., Roxane Pizaro, Rene Gare, Jason Durante, Jay Alasian, and Andres Bogwana.

 

Seven Marines and seven Abu Sayyaf members were killed in Saturday's encounter in Patikul town in Sulu.

 

Earlier, Western Mindanao Command spokesman Col. Rodrigo Gregorio said members of the Marines chanced on a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits early Saturday.

 

A report on government-run Philippine News Agency quoted Gregorio as saying that two of the four slain Abu Sayyaf bandits were identified as Commander Apong Idol, a mid-level bandit leader, and Kausar Sawadjaan.

 

The PNA report added that the operation had sought to rescue Casilda Villarasa, 41, the wife of a Marine.

 

The bandits abducted Casilda last May 8 in Barangay Asturia in Jolo, Sulu. Casilda, 41, is a medical technologist at the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Jolo. — RSJ, GMA News