New Army battalion deployed in Southern Tagalog

LUCENA CITY – One battalion of Army soldiers has been deployed in Southern Tagalog region to augment the government forces in wiping out the remaining New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the region.

Major General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., commander of the 2nd Infantry Division based in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, in the press statement issued by Capt. Jayrald Ternio, public affairs office chief of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, said the 59th Infantry Battalion will augment the military forces to “deliver the finishing blows against insurgency” in several parts of the region.

A battalion is composed of more than 500 soldiers.

Lt. Colonel Edward Canlas, commander of the 59th IB, said his men is “combat ready and focused to locate, engage and deliver the coup de grace against the NPA remnants who are now on the verge of irreversible collapse.”

Meanwhile, on February 25, at least 190 Army recruits started their six months of rigid training for their future assignments in Southern Tagalog.

“After their training, they will be deployed to all units under 2nd ID,” Ternio said.

Burgos said the deployment of additional soldiers in the frontlines is their “proactive response” to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to end local communist armed conflict before the end of his term.

With the additional forces, Burgos appealed to the remaining NPA in the surrender while they still have time.

At the reception rites held at Camp Capinpin, guest of honor former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada emphasized the importance of every Filipino citizen’s sense of volunteerism to serve the country.

The 2nd ID operates in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Rizal) and the island provinces of Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque and Romblon.