The Philippine military says ground commanders may be liable for the deaths of at least 19 soldiers who died last month in a battle with fighters from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front - where they were out-numbered three to one.

Many families feel their sons were sent on an unsanctioned and badly organised mission in a catastrophic incident now being dubbed the Basilan Fiasco.

This isn’t the first time a so-called “mis-encounter” has happened in Mindanao and even the army admits it can't always distinguish friend from foe.

Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Manilla.