LIEUTENANT General Roy Galido, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), assured that security is in place at the southern frontier after embarking on a three-day inspection to boost the troops’ morale along the Philippine-Malaysian border.
Among the islands Galido inspected during his three-day security inspection from February 28 to March 1 were the Mardanas and Panguan in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, which are being guarded by Marine troops.
Mardanas, which is uninhabited, is one of the last islands of the Sulu Archipelago nearest to the Philippine-Malaysian border and is next to Panguan Island.
Panguan Island was used as a hideout by the Abu Sayyaf bandits until it was liberated by the Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 troops in April 2017.
“Our soldiers are our vanguard and I salute them for their professionalism and discipline despite the difficult and stressful conditions they live in while sustaining the sovereignty of our beloved country,” Galido said.
An aerial inspection was also conducted along Sitangkai dubbed as “the Venice of the South.”
Galido together with the officials of the Ministry of Social Services and Development in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao distributed hygiene kits, water containers and skippers to the Badjao community in Panguan Island.
“Rest assured that your armed forces will remain steadfast in protecting the people and securing the state with dignity and honor,” Galido said.
“We continue to intensify our operations to curb transnational crimes and other related lawlessness in our borders and all the provinces in our area of operations,” he added.
The local chief executives pledged continued support to the military’s campaigns to sustain peace and stability in their areas of jurisdiction during Galido’s meeting the with municipal mayors of Panglima Sugala, Simunul and Sibutuh, as well as with Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali.
Galido also led a wreath-laying ceremony at the 2nd Marine Brigade Heroes Memorial in Barangay Sanga-Sanga, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Brigadier General Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, and other military officers and enlisted personnel joined the Galido in honoring the fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of peace.(SunStar Zamboanga)