Camp Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur — Hundreds of army troopers stationed in Bicol have been deployed via C-130 military plane to Mindanao over the weekend, for a year-long tour of duty to combat threat groups particularly the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
The 42nd Infantry Battalion (42IB) of the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) of Philippine Army in Bicol had a send-off for 500 uniformed men and women at the Naga Airport in San Jose, this town, witnessed by the soldiers’ families last Saturday
It is part of the military tradition to provide a formal venue for the officers, men, and dependents of the 9ID to bid farewell to the 42IB troops.
Lieutenant Colonel Joselito P. Pastrana said it took three trips for the C-130 to transport all the security forces to Pagadian City Airport in Zamboanga del Sur for their mission to crush terrorist elements and armed groups in the Southern Philippines.
The logistics support and other heavy equipment were transported ahead of time via a Philippine Navy vessel from Pasacao Seaport, Pasacao, Camarines Sur to Pagadian Seaport also in Pagadian City, Pastrana said.
The send-off ceremony was led by Brigadier General Ferdinand F. Quidilla, 9ID commander, with Chief Superintendent August M. Marquez, Jr., acting regional director of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) as the keynote speaker.
It was also attended by Colonel Amador T. Tabuga Jr., commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade and 9ID Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board (MSAB) member who gave their farewell remarks.
Quidilla said the 42IB was redeployed to the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) areas of responsibility (AORs) to augment forces on combat operations in the ZAMBASULTA (Zamboanga, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) area.
The intensified campaign against threat groups in Mindanao is being conducted in compliance to President Aquino’s directive following terrorist attacks in Paris, Mali, and Russia.
Meanwhile, the 901st Infantry Brigade (901IB), covering the provinces of Albay and Catanduanes, will assume responsibility for the Internal Security Operations over the 4th and 5th Districts of Camarines Sur and one Reconnaissance Company will also assume the vacated area of 42IB in addition to 901st Brigade units.
http://www.mb.com.ph/500-troopers-from-bicol-sent-to-combat-asg-in-mindanao/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.