Navy sends Marine unit to Mindanao

The Armed Forces deployed a battalion of Marines to Mindanao yesterday for internal security and anti-terrorism duties.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon presided over a simple send-off ceremony at the Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard for the members of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 (MBLT 1).

Consisting of four companies that underwent seven-month retraining at the Marine base in Ternate, Cavite, the MBLT 1 will take over the duties of MBLT 2 in Mindanao, including Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

De Leon said the MBLT 2, in turn, will undergo retraining at the Navy headquarters in Manila. — Jaime Laude