Army exec in Bicol says more troops needed to crush NPA

LEGAZPI CITY – A top military officer admitted that the deployment of more troops in the Bicol region is needed in the fight against insurgency.

Brigadier General Greg Almerol, Sorsogon-based 903rd Infantry Brigade commander, said he supports the pronouncement of President Duterte, of including Bicol region in Memorandum Order 32 as one of the areas which need additional forces “to suppress lawless violence.”

“The incidents of violence recorded in Bicol region is high for the past few months,  particularly the attacks by New People’s Army (NPA) in Camarines provinces,” he said.

Almerol also admitted that Bicol lacks Army troops because most of the soldiers here have been deployed in Mindanao.

“We need additional armed forces to address the threats,” he said.

Asked about the strength of the New People’s Army and other terrorist groups in the region, Almerol said: “Actually they are almost eliminated, but we really need more troops in order to fasten the time frame in crushing them.”

On Monday, 107 members of the NPA operating in the towns of Claveria and Aroroy in Masbate province surrendered to authorities, turning over 19 firearms.