LA CARLOTA CITY – Two battalions of soldiers and militiamen are up for deployment in Negros as the Armed Forces of the Philippines increases its operational tempo in dismantling eight New People's Army guerilla fronts in Western and Central Visayas, Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, commanding general of the 3 rd Infantry Division, said yesterday.

Narcise said they will be deploying the 15 th Infantry Battalion and activate four CAFGU companies, which are equivalent to an infantry battalion unit, in Negros early next year.

The 15 th IB headed by Lt. Col. Henry Dar is now back in Region 6 for re-training at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, after being deployed for four months in Jolo, Sulo.

Narcise said their target is to dismantle four guerilla fronts in Negros, three in Panay and one in Bohol, within the timetable set by President Gloria Arroyo to end the insurgency problem in 2010.

He is optimistic they will attain their goal in the two Visayas regions within the remaining term of office of President Arroyo, he added.

The retraining of the 15 th IB soldiers is expected to be completed February next year.

Narcise also reminded military commanders to increase their operational tempo in the campaign against the New People's Army. He, however, stressed the importance of self-discipline and strict observance of human rights by soldiers.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, outgoing 11 th Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said that Negros is the “show window” of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army in the world, in so far as “feudalism” is concerned

The Central Negros Front Committee, or the Larangan Gerilya I of the NPA, was the priority for dismantling by the 303 rd Infantry Brigade two years ago.

But the dismantling of the central Negros guerilla front suffered a setback because of lack of government forces to be deployed in barangays, which had been cleared of rebel influence and control, Manangquil said.

He also noted that the rebels in central Negros adopted “consolidation and dispersal tactics” by fleeing to northern Negros , after the military had launched intensified offensives in the area.

The Roselyn “Ka Jean” Pelle Command earlier vowed to frustrate the military's Oplan Bantay Laya 2 campaign in northern Negros .

Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, newly-installed 11 th IB commander, and Manangquil, his predecessor, stressed the importance of convergence among various stakeholders in the peace and development campaign, which should also involve local government executives, and the private and religious sectors.

Narcise, who officiated the 11 th IB turnover of command rites here, conferred Manangquil with a Military Merit Medal and 3 rd ID command plaque, in recognition of his peace and development campaign in central Negros for two years.*GPB

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