2 Army battalions returning to Samar this year

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 5  -- The two battalions of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division will be returning to the Samar Island this year, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos confirmed on Monday.

Tan, the chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council, said based on her discussions with President Rodrigo Duterte and top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, they promised to send the 34th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 46th IB back to Samar Island within this year to help secure Samar areas from the threats of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The 34th IB and 46th IB have been deployed in Marawi City after the ISIS-inspired Maute group attacked the city in May 2017.

Before their deployment, the 34th IB camp was based in Catubig, Northern Samar. In 2015, the troop was deployed in Maguindanao to help fight against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The 46th IB was stationed in Basey, Samar prior to their deployment in Central Mindanao. Their mission was to improve peace and order situation threatened by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“The commitment was to return the two battalions within this year. They said that they are only waiting for the situation in Marawi to get better,” Tan added.

This is good news for the region, according to the governor because this is a big help in addressing the insurgency problem in Eastern Visayas.

“Insurgency problem in the region is still manageable with the help of the different local chief executives, but we need to have enough troops to maintain our peace and order situation so that the government can fully implement the infrastructure programs intended to conflict-stricken areas,” Tan said.

Aside from the 34th and 46th IB, two other battalions from Eastern Visayas are still in Mindanao -- the 63rd IB and the 19th IB.

Last October 2017, the Army’s 82nd Reconnaissance Company returned to Eastern Visayas after five months of fighting with the Maute group in Marawi City. (RTA/PNA)