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ILOILO City – Philippine Army troops from Iloilo deployed to Marawi City recovered high-powered firearms from the Matute terror group.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Vener Morga, commanding officer of the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB), among those his men recovered were machine guns, M-14 and M-16 rifles.
The 436-strong men and women of the 82nd IB – based in Miag-ao, Iloilo – are now on their second month in Marawi. They were deployed there on June 17, nearly a month after President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law on May 23.
According to Morga, their primary task was to secure evacuees and the city’s areas that other government troops already cleared. They were currently occupying more than half of the areas cleared.
His troops were safe, Morga also said. They were not in the main battle site.
None of his troops have been injured, said Morga. They always take extra precaution, especially when patrolling the city.
The Army battalion commander was unsure how long will they be staying in Marawi. He said another challenge they face is rehabilitating the city after the terrorists have been defeated.
Morga also said government troops were appreciative of the President’s support.
On Monday during his second State of the Nation Address, the President told the military to
“never fear” because he would always be behind them.
The President visited Marawi City on July 20.
According to Armed Forces public affairs office chief Colonel Edgar Arevalo, the government’s victory in Marawi is “irreversible.”
“It is just a matter of time before we will be able to complete our mission,” said Arevalo.
Aside from the 82nd Infantry Battalion, the 1st Infantry Battalion from Bicol is also helping secure cleared areas of Marawi./PN
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