Army promotes 60 Ecija-based soldiers who fought in Marawi

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, PALAYAN CITY – More than 60 enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army’s 7th Infantry Division were promoted here on Tuesday (May 22) for helping liberate Marawi City from Maute terrorists last year, a belated report here said.

Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista, the Army’s commanding general, administered the ceremonial donning of ranks to troops from the 48th, 69th, and 91st Infantry Battalions, who took part in focused military operations under the First Scout Ranger Regiment of the Special Operations Command.

Bautista also promoted members of the 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company, which conducted checkpoints and support operations in Marawi.

Major Gen. Felimon Santos, 7ID commander, said three soldiers moved up from technical sergeants to master sergeants, three staff sergeants to technical sergeants, two sergeants to staff sergeants, 13 corporals to sergeants, and 39 privates first class to corporals.

Santos said the soldiers were vital to the government’s success during one of the Duterte administration’s greatest trials.

On May 23 last year, the ISIS-linked Maute Group, backed by members of the Abu Sayyaf, took over parts of Marawi, after government troops attempted to arrest one of its leaders.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on the same date. Protests marked the first anniversary of the Martial Law declaration on Wednesday. It took five months for the military to retake the city from the Maute Group. ARMAND GALANG/lb