The Philippine Army in Oriental Negros has expressed its support to the plan to form auxiliary forces for maintaining peace and order.

Col. Norman Flores, 61st IB commanding officer, yesterday said the creation of special civilian auxiliary forces will beef up army forces in the fight against insurgents, following the arrest of top New People's Army leader Raul Villar alias Ka Drilon.

There are 14 CAFGU companies dispersed in 14 detachments in its area of jurisdiction, or a total of 1,000 CAFGUs, Flores said.

Flores also confirmed the massive recruitment and logistical buildup of the NPA based on subversive documents recovered by the Army from Villar.

One of the lecture books entitled "Batan-on" details how the recruitment activity for the youth is being conducted, he said.

The army is on the verge of finding the extent of the recruitment activity in colleges and universities in the region, Flores said. Flores said Villar, who was captured along with security escort Fernando Mahilum, alias Ka JongJong, in Sibulan Monday, is involved mostly in political operations. Villar is facing robbery and frustrated murder charges.

Villar, meanwhile, told the DAILY STAR that he is ready to face the charges against him. "I did not want to return to the folds of the law because of my principles and political ideology," he said.

He also said he believes that, in the underground movement, he has become closer to people living in poverty.*JG

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