Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Marines formally introduced to media on Monday six of the 12 special additions to its force in Mindanao.

They are Grace, Garnet, Gohan, Gean, Goney, and Gasher.

All especially trained for combat, the six canines are expected to enhance Marine operations in the Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi area against members of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other enemies of the state.

The new Marines joining combat against terrorists are dogs trained for tracking operations.

Grace, Garnet, and Goney are of Belgian Malinios breed, while Gean and Gasher are Labradors. Gohan is a mixed breed.

A demonstration of their capabilities in combat tracking was held by the Marines at the parade grounds of Naval Station Jose Francisco in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy Public Affairs Office (PAO) director, said the use of K-9 units is among the new approaches to tracking enemies during combat operations.

Earlier, Arevalo said, “We often read (in the news) the enemy withdrew towards a direction and then bloodstains were all over the place indicating there were casualties on the enemy side.”

He said that during encounters, the enemy usually takes the wounded and the dead while escaping.

“So with the advent of the K-9 units that we are forming, we will now be able to counter this,” said Arevalo. “Our K-9 units will help us track them down.”

Aside from helping chase fleeing enemies, the dogs are also capable of locating bombs and booby traps.

The dogs’ keen senses of smell and hearing would be a big help in detecting threats to the troops, said Arevalo.