DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Major General Aurelio Baladad, chief of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Panay Island, assured that the arrival of more than 400 government troops in Negros Oriental on Wednesday is just a temporary set up and does not carry with it a negative connotation in relation to the insurgency problem.
Baladad said the deployment of additional troops to Negros Oriental was to prevent a vacuum once the 79th Infantry Battalion will leave for a three-month battalion of excellence training at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija sometime in July.
The military official gave the assurance as he led military, police and civilian officials in receiving the officers and men of the 20th Infantry Battalion, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Ceballos, during arrival honors at the city port Wednesday morning.
Joining Baladad in the reception honors were Provincial Administrator Richard Enojo, representing Governor Roel Degamo, Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias, 302nd IBde commander Brigadier General Francisco Patrimonio, other key Army officials and local government officials.
About 455 officers and men of the 20th IB arrived on board the Philippine Navy’s ship, BRP Dagupan City, which was loaded with the battalion’s equipment, transportation and other logistics. They will be overlapping with the 79th IB for about two months to allow the newly deployed troops time for familiarization and acclimatization to their area of coverage, said Baladad.
The 79th IB will return to Negros Oriental sometime in October after it has completed training. The training is usually given to battalions that excel in their accomplishments and are the best in their divisions. The 20th IB, of the 803rd IBde of the 8th Infantry Division in Samar, had also completed the same training in Nueva Ecija. (FREEMAN)