2 more Army battalions to be deployed in Negros
BACOLOD CITY -- Two Army battalions composed of around 1,000 soldiers will be deployed in Negros island next week as part of the campaign of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to hasten the neutralization of the remaining guerilla fronts in the island.
To be deployed in the southern and northern parts of Negros Occidental and Oriental provinces are the 79th and 15th Infantry Battalions (IB) of the 302nd Brigade that were pulled out from Bohol an Jamindan, Capiz, respectively.
According to Major Nathaniel Villasor, spokesman of the 303rd Brigade of the Philippine Army (PA) based in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia town, and which supervises operational control over the Army troops in Negros island, the two battalions will augment the 11th IB and the 61st IB which are presently in the forefront in the Internal Security Operations (ISO) in Negros.
Col. Honorato de los Reyes, commanding officer of the 303rd Brigade, has stated in a previous media interview that the Army in Negros will dismantle the four remaining guerilla fronts in the island by yearend.
De los reyes said this is in line with the deadline set by the national government under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to put and end to the insurgency problem by year 2010 when her term will also expire.
De los Reyes said that the military is also open to neutralilzing the rebels in the island through reconciliation and convincing the armed guerillas to surrender their arms in exchange for financial assistance that could help them re-establish themselves in the mainstream of society.
He said this is under the Balik-Baril program of the AFP in which firearms and ammunition surrendered by the rebels have a corresponding cash equivalent.
He also stressed that the military is willing to assist the surrenderees avail of livelihood program for them to be able to live peacefully and no longer in fear of being hunted by the soldiers in the countryside. (PNA)