The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that Wednesday’s bloody Basilan clash in which 54 people died was a success, having resulted to the downfall of the Abu Sayaff Group’s (ASG) stronghold, even as the victory was won with the lives and limbs of the soldiers.

A total of 23 soldiers were Killed-In-Action, including two junior officers, while 22 were Wounded-In-Action (WIA), in the clash that started at around 3:55 a.m. on Wednesday where the primary military objective is the terrorists’ nerve center-- training camp, and improvised explosive manufacturing base --located in Sitio Kurilem, barangay Silangkum,Tipo-tipo,Basilan Province. Among those killed were 1Lt. Chester Barela and 1Lt. Dhenjun Evangelista, both junior officers of the Philippine Army.

Reports from the field also showed 31 bandits were killed, ten of whom were confirmed to be members of the MILF while 21 were from the ASG.

The military said the operation had been surgical and deliberate employing reasonable force to minimize collateral damage to life and property of civilians residing near the ASG stronghold.

AFP public affairs office (PAO) chief, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Jr., said while the military organization mourns the death of the soldiers who figured in the encounter, “it is an accepted fact that part of our responsibilities, part of our duties would entail the risk of being killed in action.”

Navy Flag Officer in Command, Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, for his part, said, “The Philippine Navy mourns the death toll and the injuries sustained by our operating units in Basilan. But more than enemy body counts and recovery of their war materiel, the soldiers’ gain in taking Sitio Kurilem, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-tipo Basilan and depriving the bandits of its staging area of its kidnapping, bomb-production, and other nefarious activities, are both tactical and strategic victories that these fallen soldiers won with their lives and limbs.”

“In successfully seizing the terrorist’s major stronghold and thus depriving the lawless groups of a strategic advantage, government troops suffered casualty”, Maj. Gen. Benn Mohammad Dolorfino, Commanding General, Western Mindanao Command mournfully declared.