MANILA, Philippines - Without media attention, President Benigno Aquino III on Monday night visited the wake of two soldiers who were killed in action last week in Maguindanao.
A short video from Radio-Television Malacañang (RTVM) showed the President praying for the fallen soldiers and speaking to their families during his visit to the mortuary of the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The slain soldiers both belonged to the 8th Marine Battalion, a component unit of the 1st Marine Brigade based in the seaside Lebak town in nearby Sultan Kudarat province.
They were killed on March 10 as government forces foiled an attempt by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to attack a farming enclave at the border of Maguindanao's neighboring Mamasapano and Sharif Saidona towns.
At least two other soldiers were wounded in the incident, according to media reports.
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Another RTVM footage showed the President visiting the injured soldiers at the Philippine Army General Hospital, also in Fort Bonifacio.
He was accompanied by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang.
The President was even seen checking the X-ray results of the soldiers.
Aquino's visit to the soldiers comes more than a month after drawing heavy criticisms for not attending the arrival honors for the Special Action Force troopers who were killed in the January 25 Mamasapano operation against terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan.
A total of 44 police commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants and five civilians were killed when the Mamasapano operation led to an armed encounter between the government forces and the rebels.