were given a heroes’ welcome upon arriving here Thursday afternoon, December 14, 2017.
Brigadier General Gilbert I Gapay, the Army Chief of Staff, with the personnel based in Fort Bonifacio together with the soldiers’ families and friends welcomed the seventy-one (71) members of the group.
The JTG “Tabang” played a significant role in liberating Marawi City from the Daesh-inspired Maute terrorist group. During the siege, the group used loudspeakers to give instructions for civilians and hostages’ safety, and to urge the terrorists in the Main Battle Area, most of them positioned in two-story building, to surrender and free their hostages.
The group, which was formed by the Civil-Military Operations Regiment and deployed to Marawi City in July, was also responsible in assisting the local government agencies in the delivery of relief and humanitarian efforts to the displaced families of Marawi City.
Through the support programs and psychosocial services implemented by JTG “Tabang” in partnership with the different stakeholders, the impact of conflict to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has been mitigated.
Among the soldiers who returned were the twenty-six (26) female “Hijab Troopers” who also helped in the implementation of programs such as Peace Education to the children and other activities that uplifted the plight of the IDPs.
“The CMO Regiment has played a significant role in winning half the Battle of MARAWI. Not just in helping defeating the enemy, but more importantly in winning the hearts and minds of the people of Marawi City,” said Colonel Thomas R Sedano, Commander of the CMO Regiment, Philippine Army.#