ILOILO CITY – An Army general yesterday said there is nothing to be alarmed about with the impending deployment of two infantry battalions of soldiers in Negros island.

To allegations that they will militarize Negros island, Maj. Gen. Jovenal Narcise, 3 rd Infantry Division commander, said “We will be there to run after the armed insurgents”.

Narcise said they are now waiting for the availability of Philippine Navy ships for the transfer of the 15 th Infantry Battalion from Panay, and the 79 th Infantry Battalion from Bohol, to Negros island.

The Army's 8 th Infantry Division is taking over Bohol .

Militant groups slammed the military for deploying more troops in Negros claiming this will result in an increase in the number of human rights violations committed by soldiers.

They also accused the military of being behind the abduction and illegal arrest of several leaders of peasant groups in Negros .

Narcise said “We are not going to militarize Negros . That is false”

As far as human rights violation is concerned, he added, “it is on the other side (CPP-NPA) involved in the extra-judicial killings”, he said, citing the summary execution of 42 civilians, including barangay officials, policemen and military personnel.

Narcise said they are now starting to document all cases of extra-judicial killings committed by insurgents, in preparation for filing charges in court.

Negros accounts for four of the seven guerilla fronts to be dismantled by the 3 rd Infantry Division in Western and Central Visayas until 2010.

Brig. Gen. Gregorio Fajardo, deputy 3 rd ID commander, said the deployment of troops in security vacuum areas, where the insurgents are operating, will also pave the way for the development of such places, which have not been reached by government services.

The advance party of the 302 nd Infantry Brigade has already arrived in Negros Oriental to scout for the possible site of its headquarters.

Narcise asked the people of Negros to help them in civil-military operations and cooperate with soldiers in their mission of protecting them and their communities.*GPB

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