By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB) commander, Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, said they did not record any case of indiscriminate firing among their personnel during the New Year’s celebration. He lauded personnel for following directives and pointed out, “Army personnel observed discipline among their ranks.”
He also noted, troops heeded his repeated warnings of possible administrative cases and dismissal should they violate the order.
Meanwhile, Pasaporte said 303IB will further boost their anti-insurgency campaign in Negros this year.
He noted, their campaign against the rebels last year was successful.
303IB recorded a total 20 clashes across the island in 2019.
Towards the end of last month, military personnel deployed to the region expressed support anew for peace talks with the New People’s Army.
In a message, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, Captain Panchito Cenon, stated: “The people’s will is for peace and development. May this time around make us realize that the real victims of fighting the duly-instituted government are the common people.”
“If indeed we are for the people, then we listen to the majority,” he declared. “Abandon the armed struggle for it will not do good to our kababayans who expect a little sincerity that all things are done to champion the people.”/DGB, WDJ