PH soldiers’ bravery recognized by Aussie PM

MANILA — The bravery and heroism of Filipino soldiers during the five-month battle to retake Marawi City from Maute Group terrorists were recognized by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during his recent visit to the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“He (Turnbull) was very much appreciative of the sacrifices and the heroism of the Filipino soldiers,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs spokesperson, Col. Edgard Arevalo, said.

Turnbull noted that terrorism and violent extremism are problems, not only of Australia and Asia, but the rest of the world and neutralizing such threats need the cooperation and coordination of all nations, Arevalo said.

“The rest of the world must unite to beat off this threat,” Arevalo quoted the Australian Prime Minister as saying.

Some 165 Filipino soldiers and policemen perished in the five-month effort to retake Marawi City from the Maute terrorists.

Fighting began in the city when government troops tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader and ISIS “Emir” in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, and his cohorts last May 23.

It was only declared over after Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the Maute Group co-founders, was confirmed killed on October 23.