AFP soldiers off to a different battle minus guns, armed with relief goods
Soldiers hardened by the war in Mindanao and toughened by local hostilities here faced an entirely different battle brought by Typhoon Frank. Even those trained to carry high-powered firearms chose to temporarily lay down their arms and got involved in rescue and relief missions.
At the height of Sunday's widened call for help mostly from distressed families of Jaro and Mandurriao districts in Iloilo City, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here organized its own rescue teams.
First to respond, The News Today (TNT) gathered was an AFP team coming from 47th Infantry Batallion focused on a search and rescue operation. Hours into the search, rescue was effected in Lambunao and Passi City areas. Also on hand to help were men from the disaster response unit of the Philippine Navy's Bantay Bayan and the Civil Relations Service (CRS).
Two rubberboats of the the Navy also helped some 40 families from Jaro district and the towns of Leganes, Pavia and Zarraga.
"We are still on standby with unscheduled relief mission trips on board our Airforce helicopters. Our relief mission trips now are coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). We take care of delivery medicines and food supplies," said Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, commanding officer of AFP's 3rd CRS unit. "And so we make this appeal to non-victims to please help those families who were not so lucky. The people need clean water and clothes."
Captain Marquez said two more rubber boats of the Philippine Navy will be added today for future use of Iloilo's disaster units.