A team of Philippine Army personnel is in Negros Oriental to conduct advance inspection and clearing of possible sites for the headquarters of additional Army units to be assigned in the province.

Earlier, Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, commanding officer of the 61st Infantry Battalion, disclosed that two more Army battalions are to be deployed for counter-insurgency operations in Negros Oriental.

These are the 79th IB, who will cover the central and southern portions of Negros Oriental and was formerly under the AOR of the 61st IB, and the 15th IB to be assigned to the northern part of the province.

Both units will be under the operational control of the 302nd Brigade, headed by its commander, Lt. Col. Cesar Yano.

Basco said the 302nd Brigade that will arrive from Bohol soon, will be based at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City .

The 79th IB is expected to set up its headquarters in Siaton town in southern Negros Oriental, while the 15th IB has yet to identify its base camp.

PNP Provincial Director Sr./Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe confirmed yesterday the arrival of the Army's advance party, saying they had coordinated with the police last week regarding their visit here.

With the imminent deployment of more military troops to Negros , the 61st IB can now focus on the CHICKS area, once known as a hotbed of insurgency during the late 80s.

CHICKS is an acronym for the towns and cities of Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, Candoni, Kabankalan and Sipalay, all in southern Negros Occidental.

Basco allayed public apprehension that the arrival of additional Army battalions in the island would mean a rise in its insurgency problems.*JG

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