Soldiers, tourism officials rescue, free bird in Maguindanao marshland
Climate Change/Environment • 10:45 AM Tue Jun 4, 2019
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
Military and environment officials free an Oriental Darter captured by residents in Gen. SK Pendatun, Maguindanao. (Photos by PFC Henrich L Burata)
GEN SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao - The military and tourism officials on Monday freed a captured Oriental Darter, one of the endangered bird species in Maguindanao marshland, back to the wild.
"No bird was born to live in a cage. Oriental Darter was saved, rescued and released (to) where it belonged," said 1Lt. Mary Grace Orden, the 33rd Infantry "Makabayan" Battalion Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer.
1Lt. Orden and Tacurong City Tourism Officer Emelie Jamorabon lead the sending back to the wild of the endangered bird.
The marshland in Gen. SK Pendatun, Maguindanao has been converted by the military as bird watching area after learning that the marshland had been the endangered bird sanctuary.
The area used to be the bailiwick of IS inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters but the 33rd IB managed to convince the armed men to surrender and received livelihood assistance from the government.