Army conducts gratitude parade

THE Army's 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (IB) recently held a gratitude parade to express its appreciation and thankfulness to the people of Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

The Municipality of Guipos is the home of the unit as Camp Sabido that houses the “Matapat” headquarters is located in the town’s Poblacion village.

Accompanied by Guipos Police while exhibiting 53IB's forces, military vehicles, and capabilities such as its Disaster Response Team and Sniper Squad, the Matapat Troopers marched last week around Poblacion village, Guipos.

Guipos Mayor Vicente Cajeta and the residents noted that the gratitude parade was the first of its kind and the first time that was held in the municipality.

Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, commander of the 53IB, said they conducted the activity as Guipos and the other municipalities in its area of operations have always been supportive to the unit’s mission, endeavors, and campaign against communists New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists and lawless groups as a whole.

“The [gratitude] parade was also done to tell not just the people of Guipos, but the whole Zamboanga del Sur and beyond, that this is your Army—an Army the people, we have sworn to protect can be proud of,” Herrera said. (SunStar Zamboanga)