Soldiers from the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion leave the cargo loading bay of a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft after their arrival at the Bancasi airport in Butuan City, Monday. ERWIN MASCARINAS/InterAksyon.com
BUTUAN CITY – More troops are expected to be deployed to Caraga Region as part of the military’s intensified campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA) after the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion (4SRB) arrived here Monday via a C-130 Hercules aircraft.
“The 4SRB is not the only battalion that will augment the forces here in Caraga Region. We believe that there will be more troops coming to the region. As of the moment the 4SRB will stay at the 402nd Brigade headquarters in Bancasi until they get their operational order,” said 1Lt Joe Patrick Martinez, civil-military operations officer of the 402nd Infantry Brigade.
Martinez revealed that another army battalion has started its operational assignment in Agusan del Sur.
“The 3rd Special Forces Battalion based in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur just activated its operational status around the first week of February and will be supporting our forces between the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, and parts of Surigao del Norte. The new augmentation will greatly aid in covering more areas across the region,” he said.
Lt. Col. Freddie Dela Cruz, commanding officer of the 4SRB, pointed out that the ranger battalion is not new to the region.
“We have been assigned here previously after the May 2013 election and was pulled out to support our troops during the Zamboanga siege. We were then assigned in North Cotabato to help in the campaign against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) a few weeks ago and then we got the order to come back here,” said Dela Cruz.
No cause for alarm
Dela Cruz stressed that their arrival should not be a cause of alarm and that they are going to work hand in hand with the communities.
“We are only here for the interest and benefit for the people in Caraga region and to work hand in hand with them in assisting and providing support for peace and development. So far, right now we still haven’t received our orders as to the area of operation,” said the 4SRB commander.
Last January, Maj. General Ricardo Visaya, commander of the 4th Infantry Division revealed in an interview that the division is expecting three battalions to arrive in Caraga region to augment the operational capability of the army.
Jorge Madlos also known as Ka Oris, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), said during a local radio interview that the arrival of more troops will only create problems for the region.
“The arrival of more troops will create problems especially for the communities since it will put people in harm’s way and will displace them as more operations would be conducted. We have seen human right violations committed in the past brought in by military operations,” he said.
Madlos said more troops are being brought in to protect large corporations that rob the region of its resources.
“This plan to put in more troops is a sure indication in paving the way for rich plantations, mining, and logging businesses to come in and rob our people from their basic rights to our lands. They are not here for the people but for the benefit of the greedy corporations,” he said.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/81066/scout-ranger-battalion-arrives-in-butuan-to-fight-npa-rebels
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