Military activates joint Navy, Marines command

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military has launched a new command to improve its fighting capability against the Abu Sayyaf terrorists through greater coordination between naval forces and battle-tested Marines on the ground.

The new command – Naval Forces Western Mindanao Combined – comprises three Marine brigades and naval units operating in the Sulu seas. Rear Adm. Emelio Marayag Jr. commands the newly formed NFWMC.

With the creation of NFWMC, the military deactivated the Naval Forces Western Mindanao or NavFORWM.

Col. Ram Alivio, chief of the Basilan-based 1st Marine Brigade, said the new command was activated last Feb. 2 but the command turnover was done only last week.

Alivio said that with the creation of the new command, Marines and naval forces under it would focus on coastal operations while army forces would take care of the hinterlands.

He said one of his marine battalions had already been deployed in Sulu to reinforce Marine forces hunting Abu Sayyaf remnants sheltering Umar Patek and Dulmatin, the two principal suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings. – With AFP