The Philippine Marine Battalion Team 1 (MBLT-1) on Thursday landed in Naval Station Romulo Espaldon to enhance the internal defense posture in Zamboanga City.
The Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) officially welcomed MBLT-1 with Arrival Honors led by Rear Admiral Francisco G. Tagamolila Jr., the Commander of NFWM.
Tagamolila emphasized the role that MBLT-1 will play in bolstering security operations across Western Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga City, where the unit will be under the Operational Control (OPCON) of Joint Task Force Zamboanga (JTF-Z).
“The deployment of MBLT-1 in Zamboanga City significantly enhances our internal defense posture, providing vital support to the Western Mindanao Command through JTF-Z. Their expertise will be indispensable as we work closely with other government agencies and the Local Government Unit of Zamboanga City in maintaining peace and security,” the NFWM Commander said.
He also expressed his confidence in the unit’s capabilities, noting, “JTF-Z is fortunate to have a marine battalion under its command. An MBLT is a highly trained and well-organized unit, and having MBLT-1 on the ground strengthens our capacity to address the dynamic security challenges in the region.”
