SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines — The Philippine Marine Corps on Sunday has augmented its forces securing coastal towns in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provinces with an additional battalion to help local authorities address fanatical Islamic militants. The 2nd Marine Battalion, comprised of more than 500 Marines, was welcomed on Sunday by residents of Kalamansig town led by Mayor Ronan Garcia. The unit will join four other battalions under the 2nd Marine Brigade based in nearby Lebak town also in Sultan Kudarat. Gen. Alvin Parreño, brigade commander, was also present in the welcome honors that local officials extended to the Marines. The Marines are popular in Central Mindanao for having driven away more than a hundred Khilafa Islamiya militants from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat in late 2015.

Source: Philippine Star December 06, 2016 02:01 UTC