ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
The Philippines army will re-investigate the friendly fire that killed six soldiers in the country's Muslim south and was originally attributed to al-Qaeda-linked militants.
The armed forces' public affairs head Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said Friday that justice will be served for the officers killed June 19 in heavy fighting with Abu Sayyaf militants in the troubled island of Sulu.
"I cannot predict what they [the army's board of inquiry] will find out, but definitely they will go there in the interest of justice and finding out the truth," Zagala said.
Despite the Abu Sayyaf – who lost about ten members in the clash - initially being held responsible, an investigation by the military concluded Thursday that the soldiers died when their detachment was hit by howitzer rounds fired by marines for back up.
Zagala said the military hierarchy led by retiring Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista – who bid farewell to military commanders Thursday - was deeply saddened by the tragic event.
"We'll inform everybody when any development about the investigation is made," he said, adding that some military members may be held responsible.
Meanwhile, Bautista said Friday, "Definitely we will address the issue. It's an unfortunate incident, nobody wants that but it happens."
He added that such incidents happen even among the top armies in the world, such as with United States forces in Afghanistan.
Bautista – who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 20 - refused to comment on whether anyone would be held accountable, saying he did not want to preempt the investigation.
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