No need to deploy more troops in ComVal: army

From the Mindanao Times (Jun 10): No need to deploy more troops in ComVal: army

The 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine army will not be deploying additional forces to address the insurgency problem in Compostela Valley, after it topped the number of New People’s Army related incidents during the first five months of the year.“We don’t need to add forces anymore, we have enough forces in the area,” Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, 10th ID spokesperson, said.

Instead, Paniza said they need more the cooperation and help of residents and every sector of society.

Records presented by the 10th Civil-Military Operations Battalion commander, revealed that the number of incidents perpetrated by the NPA already surpassed the total number in 2012.

Maj. Jacob Thaddeus Obligado said Compostela Valley ranked first among the region with 44 incidents out of 108. There were 96 incidents recorded in 2012.

“Davao del Norte ranked second with 23, Davao del Sur had 13, Davao Oriental had 10, while Davao City recored nine,” Obligado added.

Obligado disclosed that the NPA atrocities have increased during the first quarter, especially in Compostela Valley. The number of atrocities increased in April as the election fever gained momentum. For that month alone, there were 37 incidents registered in the region.

Obligado said there are 55 Guerilla Fronts nationwide, 28 of these are in Mindanao. He added that out of 28, 14 is in Davao Region while seven fronts are in Compostela Valley.

“So, 50% of the insurgency problem in Mindanao is in Region XI. That is why, this justifies the number of atrocities committed by the New People’s Army,” He added.
Paniza said Compostela is on pace to rank first in the number of atrocities by the NPA this year.

“However, if you would to look at it in comparison vis-a-vis to the units of the NPA in Compostela Valley, 10 out of 11 of its municipalities is being addressed by the 1003rd brigade.,” Paniza said. “This time we have adjusted our boundaries. The 28th Infantry Battalion under the 701st brigade has entered Pantukan.”

The spokesperson revealed that the reason behind expansion of the 28th IB’s area of responsibility was to address the pressing situation in Compostela Valley because of the different guerilla fronts operating in the area.

Lt. Col. Llewellyn Binasoy, 60th IB commander, said what happened in Laak last May 31 was due to the information coming from the community, adding that the participation of the community led to the series of encounters.

Last May 31, the 60th and 72nd IB engaged members of the Pulang Bagani Command 4 resulting to the death of one rebel and the arrest of two others. Soldiers were able to recover two M16 rifles, AK-47 rifles, 2 M203 grenade launchers, land mines, and subversive documents.

Sr. Insp. Gretchen Cinco, deputy spokesperson of the Police Regional Office, said the police is always behind the efforts of the armed forces. “We are always in coordination with them, since they are the lead agency suppress the problem with insurgency.”

http://www.mindanaotimes.net/no-need-to-deploy-more-troops-in-comval-army/