After almost three years of being away from Negros Oriental, the 11th Infantry “Lapu-Lapu” Battalion of the Philippine Army has returned to Negros Oriental to help government efforts in addressing the insurgency problem posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.
Lt. Col. Carlo Ferrer, battalion commander of the 11th IB, led the estimated 500-strong troops on Monday on board the Philippine Navy ship BRP Tarlac, which arrived Dumaguete last Monday.
Ferrer said their return to Negros Oriental was ordered by President Duterte.
Their specific area of assignment was not immediately known but “we are prepared to be assigned anywhere as we are soldiers,” Ferrer said.
From Dumaguete, the battalion proceeded to Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City where the troops were oriented on their assignments.
Most of the returning soldiers of the 11th IB had previously been assigned in Negros and about half of the battalion have their families here, Ferrer added.
He said that their standing order is to help “eradicate the insurgency in Negros Oriental”, although there is no timeline because it all depends on the military’s assessment of the CPP-NPA.
The arrival of the 11th IB to Negros Oriental brings to five the number of Philippine Army battalions on Negros Island to hasten the end to the insurgency and to help in the development of the affected areas, he said.
Aside from the 11th IB, another battalion, the 94th IB, is currently based in Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, Gov. Roel Degamo, reassured the troops of the full support of the provincial government as he also expressed optimism that with their return, the insurgency problem in Negros Oriental will be significantly addressed.
Also, taking up arms is not the only solution to the insurgency, as there are other non-combat ways to address the problem, he added.
Another ranking Army official, Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga, commander of the 303rd Brigade, said that the CPP-NPA is no longer “a force to reckon with” because their number is no longer “significant but they can still do terroristic atrocities” such as liquidation of innocent civilians.
For his part, Police Col. Raul Tacaca said the police in Negros Oriental are happy because they now have more allies to help them in their fight against insurgency and criminality.
The military and police officials expressed hope that with the participation of the local government units and the people, the common desire to win a lasting peace in Negros Oriental can be achieved in due time. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
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