MANILA, Philippines — A battalion of Philippine Marines was flown to Mindanao early Thursday morning to reinforce troops who have been battling extremist gunmen in Marawi City since last week.
The 400-strong 7th Marine Battalion was headed to Cagayan de Oro City where they will be placed under the Western Mindanao Command and designated Marine Battalion Landing Team Seven.
Last year, the battalion was assigned to Lebak in Sultan Kudarat and is returning to Mindanao after a six-month retraining in Ternate, Cavite.
A brief sendoff program was held for the departing troops at Villamor Airbase where they sang “Happy Birthday” to mark the battalion’s 29th anniversary.
This was supposed to be the unit’s regular deployment to Mindanao but Marine deputy commandant Brigadier General Alvin Parreno said Westmincom sent in a request for the battalion’s deployment last week.
It will become the third battalion deployed against the Maute group.
WATCH VIDEO SHOT BY NEWS5’S GARY DE LEON:
