By Paulo Loreto Lim

The Philippine Army 15th Infantry Battalion (15IB) was recently redeployed to Negros Oriental after it had earlier been assigned to Mindanao.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo led the welcome ceremony, where he expressed his optimism the 15IB would sustain the province as being “conflict-manageable and development-ready.”

The new military deployment comes at a time when New People’s Army (NPA) activity has been reported throughout the province.

Most recently, six suspected NPA members were apprehended over the weekend in Mabinay following a firefight with government forces and, last week, Negros Oriental Philippine National Police and the 62nd Infantry Battalion began patrols amid reports of NPA sightings in Bindoy and other nearby localities.

The governor noted, however, he believes there is no reason for the NPA to be “at war” with the government because the two parties share the “same vision and mission” in terms of helping the underprivileged./PLL, WDJ