MANILA, Philippines – A Marine battalion will be deployed in Misamis Oriental to beef up its security operations for the upcoming elections.
Major Leo Bongosia, spokesman of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said that the deployment was “not necessarily” in response to the communist rebel attack on the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona over the weekend.
“Not necessarily in response to the ambush but in general situation dito sa Misamis Oriental, ’di ba? Mahirap, yung deployment kasi… manipis yung numbers ng Army dito but considering dun sa mga deployment, parang may gap kasi e, parang may gap yung ano, so we have to fill in that gap nang makatulong naman s’ya. Ang tinitingnan nila is makatulong sa Fourth Division,” he told reporters in a phone interview.
He did not say, however, when the troops will arrive in the area, as well as the exact location of deployment in the said province.
Only one battalion, or up to 500 Army soldiers of the 58th Infantry Battalion, is deployed in Misamis Oriental.