PACMAN BACKS MAYORAL BID OF EX-AFP TOP HONCHO
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 May 2019
Former AFP chief Alexander Yano with Manny Pacquiao.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? Senator Manny D. Pacquiao flew all the way from here to Sindangan town in Zamboanga Del Norte aboard his personal chopper to show his all-out support to former AFP Chief of Staff, retired Gen. Alexander B. Yano, who is gunning for the mayoral post in his hometown.
Yano, a bemedalled Army officer who earned his first start rank when he was the 601st Army Brigade commander here, thanked Pacquiao for his support.
?Manny Pacquiao promised to donate 30 jetmatic pumps out of his personal funds to address the water problem bugging residents here. I was so touched by his gesture of support and I admit it was a big boost to my mayoral bid in my hometown,? Yano bared.
Sindangan is one of the two most-densely populated towns in Zamboanga Del Norte.
Aside from the 30 jetmatic pumps, Yano claimed, Pacquiao also pledged to bring in infrastructure projects in Sindangan town.
Pacquiao chaired the Senate Committee on Public Works.
?I will not support a candidate who is corrupt or someone who is involved in illegal drugs trade. Gen. Yano is a good friend who served with utmost dedication and integrity during his stint in South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos as military commander,? Pacquiao said.
Yano hugged the limelight when, as Task Force Zamboanga Chief, he acted as overall ground tactical commander during the infamous Cabatangan crisis in 2001.
His gallant efforts led to the safe release of over a hundred civilians taken as hostages by the more than 300 heavily armed breakaway group of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Yano?s success in liberating Zamboanga City?s Cabatangan Complex earned him the moniker, ?Liberator of Cabatangan? from the late city mayor Maria Clara Lobregat.
Yano, the first ever Mindanaoan to become the AFP chief of staff, was personally handpicked by then Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu as commanding officer of the Army?s 601st Brigade in Socsargen.
During his tour of duty in Socsargen, no single bombing incident occurred and relative peace reigned in the area. He earned the admiration and respect of both the civic and religious groups, including the business sector for being straight and gentleman military officer.
He left the place with an untarnished record.
In recognition of probity and invaluable contributions to peace and security in Socsargen, the local Sanggunian in General Santos passed a resolution in 2003 declaring Yano an adopted son of the city.
Yano was the one responsible in recruiting Pacquiao to join in the Army Reserved force.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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