More Army troops due to arrive in Negros in 2019

From the Daily Guardian (Dec 20): More Army troops due to arrive in Negros in 2019

Additional soldiers might be deployed to Negros Island in 2019 in keeping with President Rodrigo Duterte’s orders last month.

Colonel Benedict Arevalo, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, said he has yet to receive the complete details of the additional troops that will be sent to Negros.

Arevalo confirmed that additional deployment was already sent to Samar and Bicol region, which is also covered in Duterte’s order.

He added that whether they receive the additional troops or not, they have enough personnel to ensure the security of the province.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, citing recent acts of violence, including the “Sagay 9” incident and the murder of National Union of the People’s Lawyers-Negros secretary-general Atty. Benjamin Ramos Jr., justified the need for reinforcements in order to “prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property.”

The added security seeks to “bring the country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible.”

The order also reiterated measures the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) can undertake during a state of national emergency on account of lawlessness; along with directing the AFP, PNP, and Department of Justice to closely coordinate and intensify local and transnational intelligence operations.

https://thedailyguardian.net/negros/more-army-troops-due-to-arrive-in-negros-in-2019/