More than a thousand Moro villagers benefitted from an Army humanitarian mission in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday, December 10.
Major Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Wednesday, December 11, that the beneficiaries of the medical, dental and feeding activities are residents of Datu Saudi Ampatuan’s now peaceful Barangays Salbu, Elian, Dapiawan, Gawang, Kitango and Madia, former bastions of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawlah Islamiya.
More than a thousand members of both terror groups, known for fomenting animosity towards non-Muslims, had surrendered in batches to units of the 6th ID since 2002.
The outreach activity in Datu Saudi Ampatuan on Tuesday was jointly facilitated by the 92nd Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Christian Cabading, the 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 6th ID, which has jurisdiction over military units in Maguindanao del Sur and five other provinces and three cities in Central Mindanao.
Municipal officials and barangay leaders have been vocal about the role of the 92nd IB, the 6th ID and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in maintaining law and order in villages in Datu Saudi Ampatuan.
Nafarrete said the 6th ID is grateful to the Cotabato City branch of the Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative, most known as the PAFCPIC, for supporting the day-long outreach event.
Representatives from PAFCPIC, led by its manager for Cotabato City, Gemma Deleña, assisted the teams that provided 1,044 residents from the five barangays of Datu Saudi Ampatuan with free medical and dental services.
The outreach teams had also fed 537 Moro children with nutritious food during the event, according to municipal officials.
Nafarrete said 53 Moro boys were circumcised for free by Army medics then. (JFU in Cotabato City, Dec. 11, 2024)
