8th ID deploys additional Battalion to Samar

By PIA Samar
October 12, 2010

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  To strengthen the campaign against insurgency in the region, the 8th Infantry Division has deployed a battalion of government troops in Samar on Monday.

In a press release penned by one LtC Noel A Vestuir (GSC) PA it said that Major General Mario F. Chan, Commander of the division that the 87th Infantry (Hinirang) Batallion, under Lt Col. Leo Lorenzo Madroñal after an organizational training is now prepared to pursue of what has been left in the CPP/NPA remnants after the troops incessant operations and overrunning of camps.

To recall, 87th IB was created in April and immediately underwent training in Brgy Erenas, San Jorge, Samar.

Aside from the rigorous training, the troops mission-essential equipment have also been fortified through modern and high tech equipments in warfare as part of the army’s modernization program.

Some of these are K3 crew-served weapons, Squad automatic weapons, 90 millimeter recoiless rifles, mortars, grenade launchers, sub-machineguns, harris radios to name a few.

With all these in place, Chan believes that the battalion is ready to help the government end insurgency in the region.

In a simple send-off ceremony on October 11, 2010, Chan stressed the need to uphold human rights not only that of the civilians but even captured ‘enemies’ of the state or ‘prisoners of war’.

Recently, some 16 camps of the CPP/NPA have been found in the tri-boundaries of Samar island.

A series of encounters also took place between the insurgents and government troops. The most recent of which was the encounter between some elements of the 34th IB underi 2nd Lieutenant Collado and some ten members of NPAs in Barangay Gusa, San Jose de Buan, Samar some 2 days ago. No casualties were reported however, but the troops think that the rebels have ‘immersed’; themselves in the area.

MGen. Chan noted that despite the diminishing strength of the ‘enemy’, he ordered a no let up operation on the pursuit of the rebels. He however added that the government is ready to welcome those who will change their minds in favor of the state.