ZAMBOANGA CITY - Members of the Philippine National Police 5th Special Action Force (SAF) Battalion who were sent to Marawi arrived in Zamboanga City Tuesday morning and were welcomed by their comrades.

A thanksgiving mass was held inside the base at Old ATO Radar Station followed by a short program wherein they honored the heroism of those who were killed in the battle for Marawi.

Most of them became emotional when the battalion commander delivered his speech reminiscing the death of PO3 Alexis Mangaldan, one of the troopers killed in Building 124 last July.

The said unit also suffered 11 wounded in action.

Batallion commander Police Superintendent Ledon Monte said the SAF troops from Marawi will be given a vacation break and will undergo spiritual and stress debriefing to help them cope with the stress following their deployment in Marawi.

Monte admitted that they need to incorporate additional strategies to help them in their campaign against urban terrorism.