Army: Detachment in Toboso no longer necessary

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Jun 3): Army: Detachment in Toboso no longer necessary

THE Philippine Army said their detachment in Toboso, Negros Occidental, has ceased operations because it is no longer necessary.

Second Lieutenant Ma. Revekka Roperos, public information officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Murcia town, confirmed that they have pulled out their forces from Barangay San Isidro, Toboso.

Roperos said in a text message sent to Sun.Star Bacolod that the move is “in line with the directive and policy set forth by higher headquarters that military camps should be mobile.”

“The establishment of a permanent patrol base is not necessary,” she added.

Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco earlier lamented that government troopers abandoned the detachment just two weeks after the New People’s Army (NPA) staged an ambush that killed three soldiers and wounded two others in Barangay Isidro.

Jaojoco said he was informed about the move through a text message and it was not clear why the Army stopped its operations in the village.

While the mayor confirmed that augmentation troops were recently sent to his town, he said the Army should have not pulled out its forces and that more troops should have been deployed to his town instead.

The augmentation came after the rebels attacked on May 22 a farm workers’ bunkhouse in Barangay General Luna in the neighboring Sagay City that killed two farmers and injured two others.

Jaojoco said the series of killings perpetrated by the NPA created fear among the residents, as there were still sightings of rebels in the area.

For her part, Roperos said the Army continues to secure the town.

“The conduct of the bayanihan team activities and peace and development efforts in the said area will not be affected by the pullout of military detachment in Barangay Isidro,” she added.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/local-news/2016/06/03/army-detachment-toboso-no-longer-necessary-477371