455 soldiers arrive in Negros

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 29): 455 soldiers arrive in Negros

Maj. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, chief of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, based in Panay Island, said the arrival of the government troops in Negros Oriental yesterday is just a temporary set up, and has no negative connotation about the insurgency problem.

About 455 officers and men of the 20th IB arrived on board the Philippine Navy's ship, BRP Dagupan City, with the battalion's equipment, transportation and other logistics.

Baladad said the deployment of the troops is to prevent a vacuum once the 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers leave for a three-month excellence training at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija in July.

Baladad led military, police and civilian officials in receiving the officers and men of the 20th IB, headed by Lt. Col. Miguel Ceballos, at arrival honors at the Dumaguete port yesterday morning.

Present were Provincial Administrator Richard Enojo, representing Gov. Roel Degamo, Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias, 302 nd Brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, and other Army and local government officials.

The troops will overlap with the 79th IB for about two months, to allow for familiarization and acclimatization, Baladad said, adding that the 79 h IB will return to Negros Oriental in October.

The 20th IB, belongs to the 803rd Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division in Samar, and had completed the excellence training in Fort Magsaysay.

Baladad admitted the need to strengthen security measures in the boundaries of the Negros provinces and cited the recent encounter in Sto. Niño, Tanjay City, where four suspected New People's Army rebels were killed.

The presence of the 20th IB will help maintain the peaceful atmosphere conducive to development, Baladad also said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/May/29/negor2.htm