Army creates new unit vs NPA in NorMin

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 26): Army creates new unit vs NPA in NorMin

As resumption of the peace talks between the Communist rebels and the government still hang in the air, the military has beefed up its forces to counter the insurgency threat in Northern Mindanao, especially in Bukidnon.

The Philippine Army’s Fourth Infantry Division (4ID) said it had organized the 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB) to fight mainly the New People’s Army (NPA) in the province’s southern area.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, the 4ID spokesperson, said the new battalion is composed of 450 new recruits and battle-hardened soldiers from other Army divisions (3rd, 8th, and 9th IDs), as well as fresh graduates from the 4ID. It is based in South Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon.

Bukidnon is considered as one of the hotbeds of the NPA in Northern Mindanao.

Recently, some Bukidnon-based companies have been attacked by the Communist rebels, including the burning of equipment and properties and confiscation of firearms from security guards.

Major General Ronald Villanueva, the 4ID commander, said the augmentation of the Division’s personnel in Northern Mindanao would address the NPA threat within their area of responsibility.

At the same time, Villanueva said the newly-activated battalion’s tasks and mission are aligned to the current Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) campaign which is to promote its security plan called “Kapayapaan.”

“When we talk about terrorism, we don’t only mean Maute or ISIS, we also talk about the New People’s Army that have long made the lives of our people in Bukidnon miserable. Not only that they burn trucks and plantations but also extort hard-earned money from poor farmers and worse, recruit children to fight against the government,” the Army official said.

Villanueva said the NPA’s aim is not to “topple down the armed forces but to take the government” from the people and local officials.

“This is the reason why we remain strong, resilient, and have improved our security stance to not just eliminate but to fully address this insurgency situation that have longed been affecting our country’s development,” Villanueva added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1014018