More than 300 soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion were deployed in the rebel-infested areas of Candoni and Cauayan towns, with the re-alignment of government forces in southern Negros, after the arrival of the 79th Infantry Battalion there.

Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, 61st IB commanding officer, yesterday said the deployment of soldiers in Candoni and Cauayan, was aimed at clearing their hinterlands of armed rebels.

Basco admitted that the hinterlands of Brgys. Gatuslao, Agboy and Payawana, all in Candoni, are being used by the group of Reniel Cellon, alias “Kumpol”, as mobility corridors to other far-flung areas of southern Negros towns and cities.

The group of Cellon was identified by the police of being behind the summary execution of former militiaman Danilo Abendan in Brgy. Pinggot, Ilog, on March 31.

The southeastern portion of Negros island, which used to be among the areas of 61st IB, is now occupied by the 79th Infantry Battalion.

On the other hand, the 15th Infantry Battalion also took over some areas of the 11th Infantry Battalion in northern Negros.

Human rights groups slammed the Armed Forces of the Philippines for what they called the “rapid militarization” of Negros island, in order to target organizations tagged as “fronts” of the CPP-NPA.

Basco said the deployment of troops in Candoni was warmly welcomed by town residents, who had been pestered by the revolutionary taxation activities of rebels.

Col. Cesar Yano, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, led the Internal Security Operations awareness briefing, which was attended by more than 150 town residents, non-government agencies and organizations, headed by Mayor Cicero Borromeo, recently in Candoni.

Yano, assisted by the Army’s Special Operatons Team operators, briefed the Candoni populace on strategies of the CPP-NPA in infiltrating and destroying the lives of the people.

Yano stressed that southern Negros is a promising and potential areas for economic development. These potentials, he said, are not realized as the NPA abhors development of areas where they are operating.*GPB

back to top