Hundreds of residents at the coastal highway from Maasim towards Kiamba and Maitum waved on a column of truckloads of soldiers and armored personnel carriers passing by.
Children lining the road were clapping and saluting. People filled the national highway to look at the next arriving military truck or armored personnel carrier.
A resident said “their (military) presence boosts security. I am happy. I feel secured and we can sleep now.”
For his part, Mayor Elsie Perrett was also very pleased of the troops and welcomed them to the municipality of Maitum.
In June 25, civilians in Maitum were held hostage by rogue elements of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). (PIA/Bohol)