BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The Philippine Army has redeployed to Negros Oriental a battalion it pulled out from Zamboanga City.
Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, said returning troopers of the 11th Infantry Battalion (IB) would arrive on a Philippine Navy vessel at the Dumaguete City port tomorrow.
The number of Army battalions in Negros will increase to five with the return of the 11th IB.
Madriaga said a welcome reception would be held on Monday to be led by Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
Personnel of the 11th IB, who were deployed in Negros at the height of counterinsurgency operations, were assigned in Zamboanga City for two years. They were replaced by the 74th IB from Sumisip, Basilan.
The 15th IB also returned from Marawi to Negros Occidental earlier this year.
Madriaga said the return of the 11th IB would boost their efforts to clear Central Visayas of communist rebels.