The Army’s 15th Infantry Batallion has arrived in Negros Oriental to enhance the declaration of Negros Oriental as a conflict manageable and development ready province.
The 15th IB was previously assigned in Negros Island several years ago before they were transferred to Mindanao, where the battalion had remained and had even participated in the Marawi City siege and post-war operations.
During arrival ceremonies over the weekend, Governor Roel Degamo said he is looking forward to the continuation of various programs and projects that are geared towards a peaceful resolution of the insurgency problem through Bantay Bayanihan activities, Lakbay Aral, among others.
The governor said there is no more reason for the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) and the government to go to war because they have the same vision and mission of uplifting the quality of life of the people especially the poor.
Brig. Gen. Eliezer Losañes assured Gov. Degamo the 15th IB will perform as expected or as excellently as they have performed in their previous assignments.
The 15th “Molave Warriors” Battalion of the 3rd ID Spearhead Division was serving Negros Oriental for six months in 2008 and redeployed in September 2008 to combat operations against the MILF in Lanao del Sur where they had five encounters, resulting to major casualties of the lawless MILF group.
They were pulled out from Lanao and transferred to Mindanao peninsula. During the Marawi siege, two rifle companies and a mortar platoon were deployed to join with the other AFP forces to fight the Maute Group, the Abu Sayyaf Group and some alleged foreign terrorists.
The unit was able to accomplish its assigned mission but with six army troopers killed in action and 41 wounded in action. The battalion had recovered three high powered firearms, four low powered firearms and 15 explosive devices and rescued 43 civilians from the main battle area.
With these accomplishments, four officers and 97 enlisted personnel were recommended for the award of gold cross medals and the award of Kamagi Order of Lapulapu while seven personnel received seven pistols and PHP 100,000 cash from the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte. Likewise, three officers were given the privilege of for a vacation in Hongkong.
After the liberation of Marawi, the 15th IB was redeployed to Eastern Mindanao to conduct military operations against guerillas in Orakan valley before they were sent back to Negros.
The Army commander, Brig. Gen. Losañes, said the 15th IB is in a state of high morale and is glad to be part of efforts to sustain peace and conflict manageable development ready province. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
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