Army beefs up forces in Western, Central Visayas
The Army has deployed around 500 troops or equivalent to a battalion of soldiers to Western and Central Visayas to beef up its internal security operations.
Maj. General Jovenal Narcise, commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said that on June 4 an additional 182 newly-trained soldiers were sent to Negros Island, 140 to Cebu and Bohol Islands and 173 to Panay Island.
The 3ID which covers the islands of Panay, Negros, Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor has stepped up its operations against both the New People's Army (NPA) rebels and the breakaway Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB).
Despite a peace pact between the government and the RPA-ABB, Army troops last week clashed with RPA-ABB members at Sitio Mantagpas, Brgy Balabag, La Carlota City in Negros Occidental. An RPA-ABB member died, two others were wounded while eight were captured.
The soldiers confiscated firearms and equipment including five M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, an airgun, three rifle grenades, three mobile phones, and five backpacks containing personal belongings.
The 3ID has blamed the RPA-ABB for the clash saying the group failed to coordinate with the PNP and Army in the area regarding their presence and activities to prevent misencounters.
The Army said the RPA-ABB is also violating the election gun ban because its members were carrying high-powered firearms without the required exemption permits from the Commission on Elections.
The Army has suffered casualties in recent ambushes in Negros Occidental especially in Escalante City.
Narcise said Negros Island is the main priority of the 3ID in its operations. The island accounts for half of the 12 NPA guerrilla fronts in Central and Western Visayas.
Panay Island has four guerrilla fronts while Cebu and Bohol Islands have one each, said Narcise.
But Narcise said the number of clashes initiated by government troops has increasing showing that they are pinpointing and reaching rebel lairs in the hinterland villages.