ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The military has pulled out the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT)-3 from Sulu for deployment in Palawan.
Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega led a sendoff ceremony for soldiers of the MBLT-3 yesterday aboard the Philippine Navy’s BRP Davao del Sur.
“The MBLT-3... contributed a lot in decimating the ranks and in the reduction of the armaments of the Abu Sayyaf,” Dela Vega said.
He said there is a need to rotate Marine units and the MBLT-3 was allowed to take a respite from the operations against Abu Sayyaf bandits.
The redeployment is part of the efforts to continuously maintain and sustain the readiness of government troops, Dela Vega added.
He said the redeployment of the MBLT-3 to Palawan will not result in the reduction of forces in Sulu.
Aside from two Marine battalions, Dela Vega said the MBLT-7 from Sarangani was deployed in Sulu last month.
“We have increased our forces there to ensure we can finish off threat groups,” Dela Vega said.