PAF spent P1.4B, flew almost 5k hours in Marawi

The Philippine Air Force spent P1.4 billion in its operations against the Maute-ISIS bandits in Marawi City, PAF commanding general Lieutenant General Galileo Gerard Kintanar Jr. said on Monday.

In a speech during the welcome at the PAF headquarters for Air Force personnel who served in Marawi City, Kintanar said  1,007 airmen were involved in the operations including pilots, forward air controllers, and support personnel.

He said they conducted 1,358 sorties, flew a total of 4,950 hours, transported 6,716 soldiers and police, and extricated and evacuated hundreds of wounded out of harm’s way.

“These airmen demonstrated air power that was felt, seen and used 24/7, whenever, wherever.  They symbolize the Air Force at its finest hour, and the airmen at their greatest defining moment in recent memory,” Kintanar said.

He said in the air campaign, the PAF has its pilots and aircraft such as the FA-50s and the AW-109s which he called as game changers and the sharpest tip of their airpower spear. 

He said they also used their classic OV-10 Broncos, the MG-520 Defenders, and the SF-260 Warriors for close air support; UH-1 Hueys, the Bell-412 combat utility helicopters, and the Sokols for tactical air mobility, rescue and case evacuation; C-130s and the C-295s that transported close to 7,000 soldiers and marines to the battlespace. 

“On the ground, we have the Philippine Forward Air Controllers or the PFACS, the EOD specialists, the snipers, combat engineers, the maintenance crew, the medics and the mobile kitchen staff.  All of them were at the vicinity of the main battle area as part of Team AFP,” he said.

Kintanar said beyond the figures are stories of gallantry, bravery, boldness, daring, and sacrifice of their personnel.

“Some of our comrades’ stories will be written and retold, some will be heard, and some will fall into oblivion.  But the powerful imagery etched in the minds of our people is these aircraft that dominated the air.  And the memories that will be forever embedded in our history – in the advent of social, print and news media, will be the valiant airmen, soldiers and marines who joined forces together and responded to the call of duty for the past five months,” he said.

He asked those present to give a moment of silence to honor and salute their fallen comrades  who “offered their supreme sacrifice; in them today – heroes all who brought victory and liberated Marawi.”

Western Mindanao Command command Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez Jr., who was present during the welcome, thanked the Air Force for their contribution in the success of operations in Marawi.

“Without them I believe we cannot really gain ‘yung Marawi City. It’s really a game changer and we saw that PAF have played a vital role in terms of turning the tide and instilling fear and the will to fight ng Maute ISIS ay nadestroy,” he said.

Also present during the heroes welcome were former AFP chief retired General Eduardo Ano,  Army commanding general Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito Bautista, and Special Operations Command and Joint Task Force “Trident” commander Major General Danilo Pamonag. —NB, GMA News