Pacquiao is a Philippine Army reservist ranked Lieutenant Colonel, a rank given to lawmakers. At 9 AM, he arrived at Camp Ranao wearing full military attire.
"Gusto kong sumama sa inyo sa labanan, gusto nyo ba yun," he told troops. "Kaya lang, kapag sumama ako sa inyo at may mangyari sa akin, wala na kayo mapapanuod sa itaas ng ring," he added.
"Huwag kayong sumurrender dahil kumbaga sa boxing, nasa last 3 rounds nalang tayo ngayon at malapit ng matapos," the senator told soldiers in an address.
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Pacquiao said he salute the soldiers who risks their lives to preserve peace and order.
"Masakit din sa amin 'yun. Masakit para sa akin dahil hindi mo na maibabalik 'yung buhay nila. Dalawang kamay salute ako sa ating mga kasundaluhan na lumalaban at hindi sumusuko," Pacquaio stated.
"Huwag tayong sumuko. Ipaglaban natin ang tama. Kasi kapag sumuko tayo, hindi gaganda ang ating bansa. Maraming salamat sa inyong pakikipaglaban para sa kapayapaan ng ating bansa, para sa kapakanan ng maraming mamamayang Pilipino," he added..
The boxer-lawmaker arrived at the headquarters of the 103rd Brigade in Camp Ranao via private helicopter. He was in a tiger suit of the elite Army Special Forces, a unit who acknowledged him as an honorary member.
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Joint Task Force Marawi ground commander Brigadier General Rolando Joselito Bautista, Commandant of the Philippine Marines Brigadier General Emmanuel B Salamat, Commander of the Joint Task Group Ranao Brigadier General Ramiro Rey and Deputy Commander of the Mechanized Infantry Division Brigadier General Felicisimo Budiongan welcomed the incumbent senator.
Upon his arrival, Pacquiao was briefed in a close-door meeting by the ground commanders on troop morale and of the status of the battle in Marawi City. After that, he handed the goods he brought for the soldiers.
Westmincom Public Information Office informed the press that soldiers were delighted to personally meet the 8-division boxing champion.
"We are happy to have the Senator here with us today, it is indeed quite a privilege," said Westmincom Chief Lieutenant General Galvez.
"We know our troops on the ground will surely be in high spirits, knowing that Senator Pacquiao took his time out to come and show support to our troops despite his busy schedule."
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte visited Marawi City last July 20 to support his soldiers.
The battle has been going on now for ten long weeks and to when it'll end, the government decided not to imposed a deadline to lessen the pressure on soldiers.
The Congress in their joint voting session, granted President Duterte's request to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year.
Source: Rappler
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