Army deploys more troops, militia in Visayas
The Army is deploying around 2,000 troops including 1,000 government militiamen in the Visayas to beef up its campaign against communist rebels.
Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said seven companies of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgu) with 1,091 personnel will be deployed in three provinces in the Visayas.
The 3ID will also deploy at least two Army battalions to Negros Island in its plan to crush the insurgency movement before 2010. A battalion is composed of around 500 soldiers.
The 3ID covers the islands of Panay, Negros, Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor but Negros is considered a top priority in the Army's counter-insurgency operation in the Visayas.
Four Cafgu companies will also be deployed to Negros Occidental, two companies to Bohol and a company to Cebu.
The Cafgu units had just completed a four-month Basic Military Training at the 3ID headquarters at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan town in Capiz.
Narcise said the provinces were the Cafgu units will be deployed are the main priority in the internal security operation of the 3ID for 2007 until next year. Panay Island is considered a secondary priority.
Narcise said Negros 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, he said.
The militia units will maintain the military's presence in areas declared "cleared" from the influence of rebel influence so that the regular troops and battalions can be transferred to other rebel influenced areas.
The 3ID is aiming to Northern Cebu of its remaining rebel Front Committee by the end of the year and also a Front Committee in Bohol within the period. A Cafgu company will be then deployed in Northern Cebu and two companies in Bohol.
The 3ID in June also deployed around 500 troops or equivalent to a battalion of soldiers to Western and Central Visayas.
An additional 182 soldiers were sent to Negros Island, 140 to Cebu and Bohol Islands and 173 to Panay Island.
New People's Army (NPA) rebels have stepped up its offensive in recent years including attacks on cell sites and on raids on town halls and isolated military and police posts.