Marines redeployed to Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines' 6th Infantry Division on Wednesday announced that a Marine battalion has been ordered to be redeployed to Maguindanao, following Sunday's bloody clash that claimed the lives of 44 police commandos.

The division's spokesperson, Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, said in a state news report that the military leadership ordered the redeployment of the battalion on Tuesday.

The unit recently finished a tour of duty in Sulu and Basilan which started in March last year.

A battalion is composed of 300 to 500 troops.

"This Marine Battalion has just been redeployed back to its mother unit which is the 1st Marine Brigade whose area of responsibility covers the coastal towns of Senator Ninoy Aquino of Sultan Kudarat Province and the towns of Upi and Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao," Petinglay said.

The troops pursued Abu Sayyaf insurgents in the two provinces, she added.

Petinglay said, however, that the redeployment has long been overdue and was not connected with the killing of 44 members of the police Special Action Force by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. - Camille Diola