Some 200 interior village residents benefit from Phil. Army's free medical, dental mission

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 17): Some 200 interior village residents benefit from Phil. Army's free medical, dental mission

At least 200 residents of barangays Mabbayad, Narra and San Miguel in this town mostly pupils and students benefited from the Philippine Army’s free medical and dental mission held on Thursday. Col. Loreto Magundayao Jr, civil military operations battalion and concurrent spokesman of the 5th Infantry Division Philippine Army based at Gamu town, said the people in the villages were elated for the health services provided to them during the activity. Gundayao said the people warmly welcomed the military with arms widely open and availed the free health services that were provided by the military.

The military chose the place to conduct the medical and dental mission to show that the army soldiers are sincere to serve the people through civic action and is not implicating civilians as enemy of the state but instead serving them with utmost service be it on security concerns and in socio-civic services. Barangay Mabbayad was the place of encounter of the military troop and the New People’s Army last month that killed at least seven soldiers and wounding eight while on the side of NPAs accounted at least five killed during the encounter. “The government wants peace and the military are instruments in winning that objective," a soldier said. Barangay officials of the three barangays expressed high appreciation to the military for the services delivered for their constituents.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=481355714759