PALO, Leyte – As proof that the government fully supports the campaign to end the communist insurgency in Eastern Visayas, 1,000 soldiers from the 74th Infantry Unbeatable Battalion and 42nd Infantry "Tagapagtanggol" Battalion were welcomed by the 8th Infantry Division on Monday, Feb. 20.
Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, 8th ID commander, believes that in three to six months, they will be able to end insurgency in the region.
Eastern Visayas is known as the last bastion of insurgency and Ligayo noted that four of the last five guerilla fronts in the Philippines operate in the region.
"This division is gaining momentum in destroying the four active guerilla fronts in the area of operations. Thus, an additional force would be great as we continue to strike hard on the CTGs," he said.
Ligayo assured all the necessary support needed to achieve their mission in the region, particularly in Northern and Eastern Samar.
Lt. Col. Peter Garceniego, commander of the 42nd IB, said they will strive to fulfill their mission considering similar situations they have encountered in their previous assignments.
Prior to their assignment in the 8th ID, they served in Southern Luzon in the 9th ID and Mindanao under the 2nd ID.