GMA Network on Thursday defended its decision to air footage of a severely wounded Marine Cpl. Angelo Abeto in the network's newscasts on Wednesday, saying the airing of the video was needed to point out "possible shortcomings" of the military.
This came after officials of the Philippine Marines and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) decried the showing of the video on television.
"The footage of a wounded Cpl. Abeto asking for help was very short, and was handled as delicately as possible. The video was aired because this was precisely the point of the story -- the need for our armed forces to improve its medical evacuation capability," a statement from the network's news division said.
"As a news organization, we see it as our responsibility to tackle possible shortcomings in the hope that authorities will respond and correct them," the statement read.
"The subject matter was treated sensitively and responsibly throughout the report," it added.
"In the interest of responsibility, we periodically review the way we conduct our news coverage and take action accordingly. We take our responsibility seriously."
Remains now in Ft. Bonifacio
Military officials on Thursday said they did everything to save the life of Abeto, who died after being wounded in an encounter with rebels in Basilan last Monday.
Abeto's remains were brought to Manila on Thursday from Zamboanga City, where he died after sustaining wounds on the head and back. He was hit by a mortar shell in an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan on Monday.
His remains are now at the Philippine Marine Corps mortuary chapel in Fort Bonifacio, Makati.
Phil. Navy Flag Officer in Command Adm. Ferdinand Golez and Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino presented to Abeto's widow, Daisy, the Wounded Personnel Medal and the Military Merit Medal interim in recognition of the heroism of the late corporal.
"Walang gustong mangyari ito kaya kahit paano ay binibigay namin lahat ng suporta sa pamilya para naman sila makaadjust," Golez said.
Dolorfino was short of saying that the Marines should not be blamed for Abeto's death.
"Commendable pa nga si [1st Marine Brigade commanding officer Col. Rustico] Guererro na humiram ng chopper sa US para maevacuate agad yung mga wounded Marines," said Dolorfino in response to allegations that the Marines' inability to expedite medical evacuation contributed largely to Abeto's death.
Allaga: we did everything to save Abeto
AFP Western Midnanao Commanding Gen. Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga also paid his tribute to Abeto.
Minutes after arriving from Zamboanga for a mission here in Manila, Allaga took offense at GMA Network correspondent Jiggy Manicad's account of the incident, which was published at the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Tuesday.
In Manicad's account, he mentioned about the Marines' inability to transport Abeto to a medical facility immediately.
"Ginawa naman namin lahat ng magagawa namin. It takes time kasi. Nasa gitna ka ng encounter, may sugatan ka, hahanap ka ng landing zone, isesecure mo yon tapos nag-bad weather pa," Allaga said.
"Remember there are only ten Marines there at that encounter. Apat ang sugatan, bad weather pa. Hindi naman ganon kadali ang mag-labas ng sugatan sa gitna ng bakbakan," Allaga added.
Abeto belonged to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 that was attacked by at least 300 members of the MILF in Tipo-Tipo on Monday.
The rebels retreated after at least eight hours of fierce firefights. The fighting started 9 a.m. and ended 5 p.m.
The military claimed to have killed at least four MILF rebels and wounded at least a dozen others during the firefight. With reports from Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News, and ABS-CBN Zamboanga