Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: DWDD: BACK HOME | NFWM render Heroes Welcome to returning Troops

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Nov 2): BACK HOME | NFWM render Heroes Welcome to returning Troops

NAVAL STATION ROMULO ESPALDON, Zamboanga City (DWDD) – Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) and Combat Service Support Brigade (CSSBde) rendered Heroes’ Welcome to its returning troops from Marawi City on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 held at NFWM Helipad, Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City.

NFWM and CSSBde troops were ferried from Iligan City by the Philippine Navy Vessel, BRP IWAK (LC 289) and arrived at Brig. Gen. Asuncion Beaching Area on Monday, at around 5 o’clock in the morning. Along with the troops are their impediments and rolling equipment that they have used during the height of Marawi Crisis.

The returning troops were from the 61st and 64th Marine Company of Marine Special Operations Group (MARSOG), Armor Assault Battalion, Field Artillery Battalion, Shore Patrol Unit (SPU) of NFWM and Civil Military Operations Unit-Western Mindanao (CMOU-WM). These gallant men marched off from the beaching area to NFWM Helipad where their families await them.

The Commander of Combat Service Support Battalion, Col. Ariel R Caculitan PN (M) (GSC) expressed that these men arrived with military standard grooming despite the lack of preparation to groom and fix themselves; he added that this bespeaks the discipline of the men from the Philippine Marine Corps.

Rear Admiral Rene V Medina AFP, Commander NFWM commended the troops’ dedication to duty and expressed his pride of these gallant men and women. He quoted Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” He further added that, “The evil in Marawi did not succeed because you all did something. Something not everyone can do. Carry that thought as a badge of honor and as an oath that as always, we shall remain steadfast in service to our country and to our people, be it in peace time or in times of war.”

After the Ceremony, a traditional boodle fight followed at Tangan Gym, NSRE which was attended by the returning troops, their families and the officers and men of NFWM.

The fierce five-month battle in the war-torn City of Marawi proves how these sailors and marines from the Philippine Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines fought for the service of the Maranaos, the Filipino people and peace in the City of Marawi. NFWM/MCAG