PAGADIAN CITY – More troops have arrived in the southern Philippines to replace marines in Sulu and other provinces in Mindanao and help fight insurgency and terrorism and at the same time win hearts and minds of civilians in an effort to support the government’s peace and development efforts in the troubled region.
Brigadier General Gerardo Barrientos, commander of 1st Infantry Division, welcomed the troops who arrived here from Luzon Island in two batches.
The soldiers, who are members of the 21st – under Lieutenant Colonel Niceforo Diaz, and 41st Infantry Battalions headed by Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Noora – took over the 32nd Infantry Battalion in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte and the 35th Infantry in Lanao del Norte.
Both the 32nd and 35th Infantry Battalions have replaced marine battalions in Sulu province. The marines were reassigned to Palawan province.
“The repositioning of units is part of the strengthening of the military forces to address the emerging threats in the region,” Barrientos said. “Army units are equally capable in addressing various threats whether man-made or natural such as terrorism, disaster, environmental, and support to law enforcement and many others.”
Barrientos said the two units of 1st Infantry Division deployed in Sulu will continue the thrust in “winning the peace” in the province. He said some of the soldiers sent to Sulu are natives of the province who will hopefully be a tool in creating a bridge between the local communities and the military.
“The Command will sustain the gains that the Marine units established during their stint on the island, and the Army contingent will work side by side with the remaining Marine units in Sulu and most importantly with the stakeholders led by the local chief executives and traditional leaders so that peace and development will reign in every community on the island-province,” he said.
Barrientos said the soldiers also underwent a series of orientation and lectures, including cultural sensitivity seminars, and custom and traditions of different indigenous tribes in western Mindanao, to familiarize them to their new area of operation. (Mindanao Examiner)
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