Philippines mourns 44 police commandos killed in botched anti-terror raid

[Neopelagianus]

Borne by uniformed colleagues marching to muted drums, the numbered coffins had been flown to an air base in the capital from the southern island of Mindanao, the scene of the worst loss of life by the country's police or troops in recent memory.

Philippines president Benigno Aquino has declared Friday a day of mourning for the 44 police commandos who were slaughtered in a cornfield when their top-secret mission - to kill or capture one of the world's most wanted Islamic militants - went badly wrong.

The killings have sparked growing calls for retribution. Analysts warn this threatens the peace process aimed at ending a decades-long armed conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives in impoverished Muslim regions of the mainly Catholic Philippines.

Relatives wept and hugged each other at the air base as a priest sprinkled holy water on the caskets, which were laid in front of a large national flag at half-mast. Cabinet ministers and politicians watched from the stands.

"As president and as father of this country, I am greatly saddened that our policemen had to lay down their lives for this mission. Without question, these people are heroes," Mr Aquino told the nation on Wednesday.

The president was absent from Thursday's ceremony, attending another public event.

His spokeswoman Abigail Valte denied suggestions that the president snubbed the arrival honours, telling reporters he was set to attend memorial services for the dead at a police camp in suburban Manila later on Friday.

Two of the slain officers have already been buried by their Muslim kin.

READ MORE: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-29/philippines-mourns-44-police-killed-in-botched-anti-terror-raid/6055900

[Jayne]

May they rest in peace.

[mikemac]

 

It doesn't seem to matter where in the world horrific violence occurs the "religion of peace" seems to be behind it.