Marawi Troopers Rewarded with One Month Break

After months of intense fighting with the Maute terror group in Marawi City, troops from the 1st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Squadron, Mechanized Infantry Division, Philippine Army are yearning for rest and relaxation.

One month break

LtCol. Dennis Cana, commanding officer of the 1st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Squadron without any hesitation, granted the request of the two (2) platoons of “Tagapanguna” troopers upon their return from Marawi.

“Immediately upon their return from Marawi, I ordered them to have a one (1) month break so that they can go back to their respective families and enjoy a peaceful time with them,” Cana said.

“Their vacation certainly will rejuvenate them and normalize their feelings, meet their children and wives,” Cana said adding that the 5-month stay in Marawi is a very stressful job.

The termination of the hostilities between the government troops and the ISIS-linked Maute terror group in Marawi was declared by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on October 23, exactly 5 months later after top leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed by government forces.

Reward of efforts

Caña said his order of the troop’s one month vacation was anchored on the directive of Commander-in-Chief Rodrigo R. Duterte.

It can be recalled that Duterte had enticed soldiers in Marawi with a trip to Hong Kong as reward for their efforts in retaking the city. The trip would go to soldiers awarded with the Medal of Valor.

Reunited with their families

“Dako kaayo among pasalamat nga gihatagan kami ug igong panahon sa among battalion commander nga mahimamat ang among pamilya nga sulod sa lima ka bulan wala namo igkita,” Staff Sgt. Alex Cadelinia happily said.

(We are very grateful that we were given enough time by our battalion commander to meet our family whom we have not seen for 5 months.)

Sgt. Christopher Lorenzo, senior non-commissioned officer and a vehicle commander of the unit said he considered the one month break as a gift to them by the Commander-in-Chief.

“Even if we were not included in the trip to Hong Kong, what matters most is that our strong desire to meet our parents, wives and children will be fulfilled,” Lorenzo said in the local dialect.

Tremendous morale boost

He also thanked President Duterte for his strong support to the troops during the intense fighting in Marawi adding that his visit in the main battle area brought a tremendous morale boost to government forces.

Lorenzo said they are thankful also for the support extended by their senior officers because every time they will visit the troops in Marawi, this will motivate and inspire them to keep fighting for the country. (ALT/GCC/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur)