Army to beef up NegOr troops

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 25, 2019): Army to beef up NegOr troops

The 3rd Infantry Division is sending one company of soldiers to beef up the manpower of the newly-activated 94th Infantry Battalion in Negros Island.

The company-size Army unit, composed of about 120 soldiers, was left to the 61st Infantry Battalion in Panay, when the 94IB was shipped to Negros last year, Capt. Eduardo Precioso, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, said yesterday.

With the imminent arrival of a company-size infantry unit, the 94IB stationed in Brgy. McKinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, will soon have three companies, Precioso said.

The sending of 94IB remaining troops from Panay to Negros was in the wake of the activation of the Delta Company of 61IB, that is expected to give more teeth to the 3ID anti-insurgency campaign in the region.

There are two Army battalions, 94IB and 62IB, stationed in Negros Oriental, supervised by the 302nd Infantry Brigade under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga.

Precioso said the recruitment of 200 additional soldiers by the 3ID is now ongoing.

But he said there is no news yet as to the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to deploy more Army troops in Negros, as stipulated in memorandum circular number 32, to suppress lawless violence and acts of terror perpetrated by the New People’s Army.

With or without more troops in Negros Occidental, Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said they have adequate personnel to address NPA threats, although additional Army soldiers will be a welcome development for them.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory4.htm