MANILA (UPDATED) — Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday honored the 6 soldiers killed in a military operation against members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group in Munai, Lanao del Norte. 

Four other soldiers were wounded in Sunday's military operation against the alleged perpetrators of the deadly bombing at Mindanao State University (MSU) late last year. 

Two members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group were killed in the same operation, the military said Monday.

"Hindi sapat ang mga salita upang mabigyan natin ng tunay at makahulugang parangal ang anim na mga sundalo na nasawi sa pakikipaglaban sa teroristang Maute Group sa Munai, Lanao del Norte noong ika-18 ng Pebrero," Duterte said in a recorded statement.
 
"Ang kanilang kabayanihan ay kapalit ng kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino hindi lang sa Mindanao kundi sa buong Pilipinas," she said.
 
Duterte said terrorism does not choose its victims, citing the Roxas Night Market bombing in Davao City in 2016 and the seige of Marawi City by Maute fighters in 2017.
 
"Tandaan din sana natin na sa Marawi Siege ay napatunayan nating hindi natin isinusuko kaninuman ang ating kalayaan, kapayapaan, at kaunlaran," she said, noting that the issue was personal to her.
 
"Bilang mga Pilipino, sana ay magkaisa tayo makiramay sa mga naulila at supilin ang kalaban ng bayan."

6 soldiers killed in military ops vs MSU bombers

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. also extended his condolences to the families of the six soldiers.

He arrived at the headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division in Zamboanga Del Sur on Tuesday, where a vigil for the soldiers was being held.

"This is a very sad event. We lost some of our soldiers. Wala pong kapalit ang buhay ng tao that’s why nandito po kami upang personal na ipaabot ang aming pakikiramay at ang aming buong suporta sa mga pamilya ng mga sundalo na namatay," Brawner said.

He also said the AFP has already extended support to the victims.