President Aquino pays last respects to soldiers
killed in Zamboanga standoff
NORZAGARAY, Bulacan) President Benigno S. Aquino
III paid his last respects and condoled with the family of 1st Lieutenant John
Kristofer Rama, the first officer-casualty of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines killed in clashes with the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari
faction in Zamboanga City, during his visit to the Rama household here on
Thursday.
The President, who was accompanied by
Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Abad, arrived at Rama's wake at 10:45
a.m.
According to Erlnda, Rama's wife, the President
pledged to provide housing and educational assistance for her and her daughter
Elisa Irene.
She expressed her heartfelt gratutude for the
President's visit and pledge, and said that she felt proud the President chose
to honor the memory of her husband with his presence.
After staying some 20 minutes, the President
left for Pulilan, Bulacan to visit the wake of 2nd Lt. Florencio Michael
Esguerra Meneses and then for Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to visit the wake
of 1st Lt. Francis Damian. PND (rck)
President Aquino visits wake of an army officer
in Pulilan, Bulacan
PULILAN, Bulacan) President Benigno S. Aquino
III visited on Thursday the wake of an Army officer who died in an encounter
between the government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front Misuari
faction in Zamboaga City last September 23.
The Chief Executive paid his last respects and
condoled with the family of 27-year-old 1st LT Florencio Mikael Esguerra
Meneses, an officer of the 7th Scout Ranger Company and member of the
Philippine Military Academy Laon-Alab Class of 2011.
Accompanied by Presidential Management Staff
head Julia Abad, President Aquino arrived at the wake on Cueto Street, Barangay
Tibag at 11:30 a.m.
President Aquino handed financial assistance to
the slain officer's parents Regina and Alberto Meneses. He also expressed his
condolences to the officer's siblings, namely Elizabeth Peralta, Janina Reyes
and Gracia Chen.
The parents of LT. Meneses expressed gratitude
to the President for visiting the wake of their only son who died during clash
in Zamboanga City.
During the visit that lasted for 30 minutes, the
President told Regina that he directed the Department of National Defense (DND)
and other concerned government agencies to further conduct a review of the
military systems and procedures with the aim of preventing unnecessary loss of
lives during combat.
The President told the family that he
acknowledged the bravery of Meneses who gave his own life to serve the country
and the Filipino people. PND (js)
President Aquino visits wake of 1st Lt Francis
Damian
After earlier condoling with the families of two
officer-fatalities in Norzagaray and Pulilan in Bulacan province, President
Benigno S. Aquino III paid his respects to 1st Lieutenant Francis Damian, whose
wake is being held in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday.
Damian, together with 1st Lt John Kristofer Rama
and 2nd Lt Florencio Meneses, are among three officer-casualties of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines killed after engaging members of the Moro National
Liberation Front-Misuari faction in Zamboanga City.
Tensions between government troops and the
MNLF-Misuari faction is now on its 18th day with no clear resolution in sight.
The President, who was accompanied by
Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Abad, arrived at the Camp Aguinaldo
chapel at around 12:25 p.m.
After condoling with Damian's wife, Lt Junior
Leslie Campos Damian, and their seven-month old daughter Sophie, President
Aquino left Camp Aguinaldo at a little past one o'clock in the afternoon. PND
(rck)
