BY: ROI LOMOTAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 28 (PIA) – The Philippine Army here assured Negrenses that there is nothing to worry with the deployment of government troops from Samar Island to Negros Oriental.
BGen. Francisco M. Patrimonio, Commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based here, explained that the arrival of soldiers from the 20th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the 8Th Infantry Division in Samar in the province is to replace military personnel of the 79th IB who will be undergoing a three-month Battalion of Excellence Training.
He clarified that the replacement is only temporary and when the 79th IB finished their training the 20th IB will be returned to its mother unit.
Patrimonio dispelled rumors that the deployment of these men serve as additional force to the existing soldiers due to insurgency problems.
But Patrimonio said the troops need to come to Negros Oriental before the actual training starts so that the 79th IB can orient them on the people and culture of the province.
“We need to have an overlap of two months for them to be fully oriented in the area,” Patrimonio said.
Patrimonio, along with Col. Christopher Estella, Deputy Commander of the 302nd Brigade, MGen. Aurelio Baladad, Commander of the 3rd ID, Provincial Administrator Atty. Richard Enojo and Vice Gov. Mark Macias welcomed the troops of 20th IB in a simple ceremony today at Dumaguete Port.
Around 465 soldiers from Samar were aboard the BRP Dagupan City that docked in port area at around 10: 00 am. 20th IB Commander Lt. Col. Miguel Ceballos presented his troops to the 302nd IB commander upon their arrival.
In his welcoming remarks, Vice Gov. Macias hoped that the newly deployed troops will have a peaceful stay in the province and that there will be no encounters between them and the rebels.
“To the incoming people of the army, the incoming battalion, I also say thank you for coming here. By coming here you allow our forces here (the 79th IB) to be rotated out for a while to have themselves be re-trained so that when they come here they will serve us with new weapons or training,” Macias said.
On the other hand, Provincial Administrator Enojo once again paid tribute in his message to the collective efforts of stakeholders in keeping the peace in the province.
“Through the collective and collaborative efforts between and among local government units, the Armed forced of the Philippines, PNP and the active support of different organization every Negrenses dream for peace has been approximated,” Enojo said.
With this, Patrimonio expects the newly deployed troops will be a partner in implementing peace initiatives in the province.
“While you are here, I expect and I believe that you can contribute in our efforts here in keeping the peace,” Patrimonio said.
Moreover Patrimonio assures that human rights will be upheld in the deployment of these troops.
He said the 20th IB soldiers are as disciplined as the soldiers of the 79th IB.
MGen. Aurelio Baladad also thanked the 20th IB for coming over to the province and for temporary replacing the 79th IB who will undergo training.
“The command strongly believes in your competency to perform the task expected of the 79th IB,” Baladad told the 20th IB. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)