Tuna replaces sardines on menu of soldiers running after MILF rebels

Troops running after Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels are given a special treat that would allow them to keep their staple sardines off the menu for a while.

This, after several people from General Santos City donated fresh tuna to the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, which is leading operations against MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato in the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief said in an interview that the soldiers in the said provinces would be receiving fresh and canned tuna that they could bring along with them in their operations.

“It is very encouraging, when our troops, especially those engaged in combat are used to eating sardines and dried fish (tuyo). Somehow it helps uplift your spirit if you will eat fresh food when you’re in the frontlines,” he said.

Soldiers normally take with them canned goods and soda crackers because some combat situations would not permit them to cook their food, as it could give out their location to the enemy, endangering their lives.

Torres said that aside from the fish, the 601st IB also received 100 sacks of rice from local government units in Maguindanao.

“Although there were some allegations, particularly that of the death of some civilians, there are a lot of people who understand the hardships of our troops in the frontlines. It shows they fully support our operations in the name of peace,” he said.

Aside from food, soldiers’ survival rate in case of a combat injury was increased with the donation of 200 units of plasma expanders that would prevent the loss of blood.

The equipment, that works similar to the standard issue QuickClot, was donated by Macro Pharma, in partnership with the Philippine International Trading Center.

Torres said these would be given to the frontline units who are pursuing Kato and Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo.

Military forces in the area have also been getting other items such as toiletries and medicines from private sector organizations since the start of the campaign against the MILF.