CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City –
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed back soldiers from
the AFP Special Operations Group after the successful operations in the
20-day Zamboanga Siege, in a ceremony held yesterday in Villamor Air
Base, Pasay City.
The JSOG-AFP personnel composed of the
Light Reaction Battalion of the Philippine Army, Special Operations
Command, Navy Special Operations Unit-8 of the Philippine Navy Special
Operations Group, and the 721st Special Operations Squadron of the
Philippine Air Force Special Operations Wing left Zambonaga yesterday
afternoon via C130 aircraft.
The
troops were formally sent off by Commander, Western Mindanao Command,
Lt. Gen. Rey C. Ardo and the Local Government Unit of Zamboanga City
headed by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.
A welcome ceremony took place upon their
arrival at Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base Grandstand in Pasay City.
There, a Command Plaque was presented to the AFP-JSOG and Special
Operations Task Group, Special Operations Command while the Plaque of
Appreciation was presented to the commanders of AFP-JSOG, SOTG-SOCOM,
and LRB, SOCOM. The AFP Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Alan Luga presided
over the ceremony.
The AFP for its part salutes the
soldiers for a job well done. “Your Armed Forces has defeated the enemy.
We freed Zamboanga from this threat and rescued 195 hostages through a
calibrated military response. On behalf of the AFP, the soldiers would
like to extend their gratitude to the people for their unwavering
support,” AFP Public Affairs Office Chief, Lt. Col. Ramon P. Zagala
said.
AFP Websites
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