Scout Rangers from Negros Island augment gov’t troops in Zamboanga City

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 10): Scout Rangers from Negros Island augment gov’t troops in Zamboanga City

Troopers of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion (SRB) of the Philippine Army in Negros Island were deployed Tuesday to Zamboanga City where tensions between government troops and armed men from the Moro National Liberation Front have escalated.

About 250 Scout Rangers were pulled out from Negros following an order issued Monday directing them “to consolidate for movement to Zamboanga (City).”

“So here we are,” said Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commanding officer of the 302nd Infantry Brigade based in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, who led the send-off ceremony at the Bacolod-Silay Airport Tuesday afternoon.

Patrimonio was joined by Col. Rey Bañares, deputy commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade headquartered in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

The 1st SRB, assigned in Negros in 2008, is headed by Lt. Col. Oriel Pangcog.

Patrimonio said that troopers of the 1st SRB have been assigned to various anti-insurgency assignments in Negros as part of the campaign to dismantle the operations of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Last September 6, the Scout Rangers under Staff Sgt. Rehum Magno encountered about 20 NPA rebels in Sitio Hinobaan, Barangay Plagatasanon, in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental. The firefight led to the capture of four NPA rebels.

“This was their latest score. They were able to capture four (rebels), and recover an M-14 (rifle). They re-supplied and were ready for another jump-off when we received a warning order (for movement to Zamboanga),” Patrimonio said in a radio interview.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=564336