Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
Addressing the nation Monday night, the President said he was saddened by the death of the troops and promised not to abandon their families.
“Let me express my deepest condolences sa mga asawa ninyo. I share your grief. Alam ko kung gaano ang sakripsiyo ng mga sundalo para sa bayan nila. They died a hero, they died heroes,” he said during a televised address Monday night. “We’re giving them one of the highest award sa Presidente which is the Order of Lapu-Lapu,” he added.
Duterte admitted that he wanted to visit the wake of the soldiers but such plan did not push through. “I would have wanted to go there. I thought yesterday nasa isang kampo lang. ‘Yun pala napadala yung mga labi nila sa mga pamilya nila so i decided to forego the trip,” he said.