Official affirms current troop volume is sufficient

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The additional troops deployments to Negros, in compliance with orders earlier issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, are expected to arrive next year. Although, Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Colonel Benedict Arevalo, said he has not yet received the exact and complete details of when the troops will be sent.

Arevalo confirmed the additional troops deployments have already been sent to Samar and the Bicol region, which were also part of the said order.

He added, regardless of the additional deployments, their current troop volume is enough to ensure security, even if some go on leave.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, citing recent acts of violence, including the ‘Sagay 9’ incident and the murder of National Union of the People’s Lawyers-Negros secretary-general, Atty. Benjamin Ramos, Jr., justified the need for reinforcements in order to “prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property.”

The added security seeks to “bring the country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible.”

The order also reiterated measures the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) can undertake during a state of national emergency on account of lawlessness; along with directing the AFP, PNP, and Department of Justice to closely coordinate and intensify local and transnational intelligence operations./DGB, WDJ