MANILA — The morale of troops wounded in the five-month battle to retake Marawi City from the Maute group has skyrocketed again after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the release of PHP500 million for their treatment and rehabilitation.
“This gesture did not only further boost our morale, but will translate into the wounded troops’ capability and ability to be productive members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines despite losing their limbs or sustaining serious injury,” AFP public affairs office chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday.
More than 1,000 troops from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force were estimated to have been wounded while 165 were killed in the battle that began May 23 and ended last October 23.
Arevalo said the AFP expressed its gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief for his profound manifestation of his care and concern for the nation’s soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines.
Duterte made this announcement Tuesday during the launch of the Department of Agriculture’s “Karne, Isda Supply Suporta sa Masa at Ekonomiya” (Kiss Me) project at the Bonifacio Naval Station Officers’ Clubhouse Social Hall in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. (PNA)