Christmas in the hills for troops

ZAMBOANGA CITY—“[Spending] Christmas and New Year in the hills again,” a soldier-Facebook user, identified only as Kurt Wade, posted.

Wade said he missed the sight of Christmas lights and church bells as he has been spending the past few days away from home.

“The sound of gun fire is deafening already,” he added.

Another soldier-Facebook user identified as Pedro Nacalub said in Al Barka, Basilan, the

explosion from artillery shelling “made it look like New Year.”

Col. Rolando Bautista, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade in Basilan, told the Inquirer that soldiers tasked with running after Abu Sayyaf bandits would not be having their Christmas break.

“We have to sacrifice our Christmas break so we can perform our mission,” Bautista said.

Maj. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz, Western Mindanao Command, said those in the frontline in Basilan and Sulu may have to make sacrifices for the good of the people.

Chief Supt. Miguel Antonio, chief of the Western Mindanao Police Office, said he also told his men not to go on Christmas break. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao