Philippine Army embarks on rescue, relief ops in typhoon-hit Southern Tagalog

Philippine Army troops in Southern Tagalog have been deployed to help the victims of Typhoon Ulysses in the different parts of the region./ ARMY 2ID

LUCENA CITY — Philippine Army troops in Southern Tagalog have been deployed to help the victims of Typhoon Ulysses in the different parts of the region.

Captain Jayrald Ternio, head of the public affairs office of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal, said that as of Thursday evening, the soldiers have rescued 67,480 distressed individuals in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.

The 2nd ID has deployed 86 “search, rescue and retrieval” (SRR) teams in typhoon-affected areas for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR missions, Ternio said in a statement.

Major General Greg Almerol, 2nd ID commander, said the responsibilities of government forces do not end with just securing the peace of the country from the threat of communist insurgents.

“These disasters have harmed our fellowmen, and we now have to be with them to bring hope during these challenging times,” he said.

Almerol also reminded the soldiers not to lower their guard even while conducting humanitarian missions.

“Let us not create any opportunity for our foes – the coronavirus and the terrorists – to strike us during any of our humanitarian missions,” Almerol said.

On Thursday morning, Army soldiers on rescue mission to help typhoon victims engaged a band of suspected New People’s Army rebels in Macalelon, Quezon.

No casualties were reported during the 50-minute gun battle.

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