CEBU, Philippines – The 79th Infantry “Masaligan” Batallion, based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, has been the recipient of the newly procured Remington 4-A3 Carbine 5.56 mm rifles, during a handover ceremony conducted on Sunday by Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Guerrero administered the turnover of the new firearms, in the presence of Governor Roel Degamo, Colonel Francisco Delfin, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, and Lieutenant Col. Harold Anthony Pascua, commander of the 79th IB.
In his message, MGen Guerrero said the activity marked the fulfilment of one of the major thrusts of the Philippine Army to professionalize the organization in terms of the competence of their men and upgrade their capability. He said the new equipment will boost the firepower capability of the battalion in security-challenged areas of Southern Negros .
During the program, 169 enlisted personnel and non commissioner officers received their readiness badge and promotions which the 3rd ID commanding officer is long overdue. Guerrero said the mark of distinction given to the soldiers is a symbol of their respective professional competence in different areas such as marksmanship, physical fitness, performance, financial standing, overall accomplishment of their mission.
Guerrero explained the division was recently given a big quota for promotion so more than 1000 of its personnel had their pinning of ranks on Sunday. “So let us not fail our leaders, let us not fail our countrymen and most especially do not fail yourselves,” MGen Guerrero told the newly promoted army troopers.
According to Guerrero the bearer of the readiness badge symbolizes a transformed army truly qualified and embued with the values of honor, discipline, and service to God, country and people.
Guerrero also said the 79th IB is only one of the two battalions in his division that is equipped with the new rifle, the other one is the 15th IB with almost the same number of troopers with that of the 79th IB.
In his message, Degamo said he was fully supporting the mission of the Philippine Army in the province. He also thanked the military for declaring Negros Oriental a conflict-manageable and development-ready province.
The governor said he dreamed of making the province a zero-insurgency area, which he was optimistic to be achieved by the end of this year. “Insurgency has no place in Negros Oriental,” he said because his administration has been doing everything to win the hearts and minds of the people.
As proof of this, a former New People’s Army rebel the other day surrendered himself and his .45-caliber pistol to the governor. He was identified with the aliases, Kent, Jai, Jacent and Ryzo, a 24-year-old former vice team leader of the Armadong Unit Propaganda, and remnants of the Southeastern Front of the Kometing Rehiyun-Negros.
The R4-A3 rifles, which replaced the M-16 Armalite rifles, were part of the more than 50,000 units of assault rifles the government bought for the upgrading and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (FREEMAN)