MANILA, Philippines - After overseeing the operations against the Moro National Liberation Front fighters and seeing to the needs of people displaced by the standoff in Zamboanga City last week, President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday attended the wake of the three soldiers killed during the skirmishes with the rebels.
President Aquino first went to Norzagaray and Pulilan towns in Bulacan province to extend his condolences to the families of slain 1st Lt. John Kristopher Rama, 30;and 2nd Lt. Florencio Mikael Meneses, 27.
The President also came to the wake of 1st Lt. Francis Damian at the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The President also promised to give financial and educational assistance to the families of the slain soldiers.
Reports said Rama was killed by an MNLF sniper while both Meneses and Damian died while being treated at the hospital in Zamboanga City after being wounded in a clash with the rebels.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said that at least 15 soldiers were killed while 152 others were wounded during the operations.