Troopers in Mindanao back to Samar soon: DND chief

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Oct. 4  -- The four military battalions deployed to Mindanao will soon return to Eastern Visayas to help curb insurgency in Leyte and Samar Islands.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, in a meeting with members of the Samar Island for Peace, Prosperity and Development (SIPPAD) on Tuesday, said the Philippine Army will create 10 new battalions in Mindanao within the year.

“There was an imbalance in the past years because some of the troops were sent to Mindanao, but we were able to get approval from the President to increase the population of our soldiers with additional 10,000 more this year,” Lorenzana said.

The additional soldiers will form the 10 new battalions that will be assigned in Mindanao. Those military troops from other regions will be ordered to return to their mother units.

“They will return to help in maintaining peace and order in remote communities vulnerable to insurgency threats and help carry out development programs,” Lorenzana said.

In the past four years, the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar has sent four battalions to Mindanao to help address the spate of kidnappings perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf and fight Maute terror group in Marawi City.

These are the 63rd Infantry Battalion (IB), 34th IB, 46th IB from Samar provinces and 19th IB from Leyte.

Earlier, Samar province governors asked the government to consider strengthening the presence of military in remote communities to deter efforts of New People’s Army to regain lost strongholds.

In response, Lorenzana urged local government officials to take part in the campaign against insurgency.

“Village officials must be pro-active to prevent radicals in penetrating their area. If they see suspicious people in their communities, they should ask them about their intention and tell police or the military about their presence,” Lorenzana said.

SIPPAD is a group of non-political, multi-sectoral organizations headed by three Roman Catholic Church dioceses of Samar Island. (RTA/PNA)