White for peace: Meet the Philippine Army’s hijab troopers


Text and photos by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jun 22 2018 04:28 AM
The Philippine Army deployed additional troops composed of 130 personnel from the 12th Civil Military Operation "Kabukludan" Batallion and "tijab troopers" to Marawi City through a send-off ceremony held at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday.
Hannia Fernandez, one of 25 hijab troopers, bid her mother, Merlin Fernandez, goodbye before the Army contingent flew to Marawi.  The hijab troopers, who consist of women soldiers, will support the local government and other concerned agencies to help internally displaced persons affected by the 5-month battle between government forces and the ISIS-inspired Maute terrorist group last year.
Members of the troop will focus on peace education and assist in psycho-social debriefing among IDPs, particularly the children and youth who were traumatized by the war, according to Cpl. Genefe Libor.  This would hopefully strengthen ongoing initiatives being implemented by the Joint Task Group (JTG) Ranao’s Civil Military Operations.
Formal send-off ceremonies were held for the Philippine Army's Civil Military Operations Batallion (CMOB) and hijab troopers at Villamor Air Base in Pasay, on Thursday. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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