Women uniformed personnel arrive in Marawi

FILE/ Marawi City (PNA Photo)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — One-hundred-two female soldiers and policewomen have been deployed to Marawi City to specifically assist female evacuees, elderly and youngsters with special needs, who need utmost attention.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, on Wednesday said they are assigned to different evacuation centers in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and Iligan City.

“These female personnel underwent special training on gender and development, and studied modules on cultural sensitivity prior to their deployment,” Galvez said.

“Something has to be done with the situation of the female refugees and the children, that is why we opted to best address the problem by designating female soldiers and cops,” Galvez added.

He said they will also clean houses and streets when rehabilitation is already in full swing.

The female personnel, consisting of 62 Philippine Army and 40 policewomen, arrived Tuesday, August 29, aboard a C-130 Hercules plane in Laguindingan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Galvez, Chief Supt. Raul Boac, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Marawi City administrator Camid Gandarma and Sultan Macmod Dalidig, chair of the 16 sultanates in Lanao, welcomed them.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Westmincom information officer, said they were placed on orientation program and “will be deployed tomorrow (August 31).”

Some of them, who are nurses and medics, will be assigned to the medical stations inside the evacuation centers. (PNA)