AFP, PNP deploy all-female contingent to Marawi City

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) officially deployed the 105-strong, all-female Civil Relations Company (CRC) to assist in the implementation of rehabilitation and recovery programs for Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) in battle-stricken Marawi City.

AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año led the send-off ceremony yesterday at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Marine Colonel Edgardo Arevalo said the 100 personnel, 60 of which are from the Philippine Army and 40 non-commissioned police officers, will be led by four female officers from the Army and another officer from the PNP. Their mission is to assist in the implementation of programs that will help IDPs who have been traumatized by their experience in the ongoing rebellion in the city.

Of the number, 30 came from Luzon, 16 from the Visayas, and 59 from Mindanao.

“The CRC may also serve as a mother or elder sister figure to the evacuees, especially the youth, to help alleviate their conditions in various evacuation centers,” Colonel Arevalo added.

Prior to their send-off, the CRC completed the required pre-deployment training organized by the AFP Civil-Military Operations School, and Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement from August 21-25, 2017.

The CRC will be under the operational control of the Western Mindanao Command. They will be positioned in evacuation centers as well as in communities that significantly need rehabilitation.

The deployment of the all-female CRC is one of the efforts of the Joint AFP-PNP Civil Relations Committee (JAPCRC). It seeks to promote and enable the coordination and synchronization of AFP Civil-Military Operations and PNP Police Community Relations on matters relating to national security and development.

“The AFP and PNP recognize the need to address the substantial psychological stress experienced by the residents of Marawi City. With this, we commit our forces to not only liberate Marawi from the terrorists but to help the city get back up on its feet again, and ensure the protection of its citizens,” General Año said during the send-off ceremony.

Año, at the same time, said that the all female CRC will be in Marawi City for more than a month.

Of the 105 personnel to be deployed, 34 are Muslims while the remaining are mostly Christians and other denomination.