THE Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) is extremely grateful to the assistance extended by the Tausugs, who were among the first responders that rescued several survivors in the July 4 air mishap in Sulu.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Westmincom chief, said the AFP received overwhelming support from villagers, who unhesitatingly responded to the crash site and rescued injured victims, and brought them to safety.

“To the survivors and all of us, our brothers and sisters Tausug are our heroes. They risked their own lives to save their fellow Filipinos, whom they consider as their protectors from the malefactors,” Vinluan said.

He said aside from the villagers, the militiamen and cadre from Bangkal Patrol Base were also among the first responders, who aggressively extricated more than 20 wounded soldiers from the incident site.

“Their heroic deeds are worthy of praise and recognition. This exemplifies that at times when we, protectors of the people and the state are in trouble, we have the peace-loving people to depend on. Muslims or Christians, we are Filipinos with one flag and one country,” he said.

“Rest assured that the Western Mindanao Command will work doubly to bring lasting peace and sustainable development in Sulu, and to keep all our brothers and sisters Muslim in the province safe and secured,” he added.

As of press time, 47 soldiers were undergoing medical treatment at the private and public hospitals in Zamboanga City.

They were among the 96 people, including three pilots and crewmen, who were aboard the C-130 “Hercules” with tail number 5125 that crashed around 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Amman, Bangkal village, Patikul, Sulu. (SunStar Zamboanga)