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Army battalion from Mindanao relocates to Samar to help dismantle PAGs

Philippines | National

Army battalion from Mindanao relocates to Samar to help dismantle PAGs

By Martin Sadongdong

A battalion-sized contingent of the Philippine Army (PA) was scheduled to arrive in Samar on Saturday, Feb. 5, to assist in the eradication of private armed groups in Eastern Visayas ahead of the May 9 national and local elections.

(Courtesy of 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army)

Maj. Gen. Edgardo De Leon, commander of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID), said that the additional Army battalion came from the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) which was currently deployed in Mindanao.

"I personally requested from higher headquarters for additional battalion to be deployed here in Region 8 to hunt down private armed groups (PAGs) that may disturb the peaceful conduct of elections here,” he said.

De Leon noted that he requested that the troops should either come from Luzon or Mindanao to ensure that they “have no familiarity or biases for or against any local candidates here in Eastern Visayas.”

He said the augmentation forces will help the current strength of the 8Id in supporting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Philippine National Police (PNP) on their mission to keep the elections orderly and peaceful.

Aside from securing the polls, De Leon said that the 8ID is also conducting tactical operations to eliminate the threat of communist groups in the Eastern Visayas.

The movement of troops occurred days after the 5th Infantry Division (5ID) organized last Feb. 3 the 102nd Infantry Battalion as an additional force in its area of responsibility.

The 5ID is based at Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela in Cagayan Valley (Region 2).

Related Tags

8ID Samar Private armed groups 2052022 philippine army

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