This was revealed by Maj. General Jovenal Narcise, commanding general of third Infantry Division (ID), during the ceremonial demilitarization of firearms at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO).

He said members of the 15th Infantry Battalion from Sulu province and the 79th Infantry Battalion from Bohol will be combined to compose the 302nd Brigade of the PA which will focus on the province of Negros Occidental.

He added that the 79th IB is replacing the 61st IB based in Northern Negros and Negros Oriental.

He said the troops will undergo military values and spiritual enhancement seminars as part of the preparation to realign Army forces in Western Visayas.

The Philippine Army added forces here in Negros to ensure that insurgency will not spread especially in view of extra-judicial killings and encounters between rebels and the government troops in Negros and Panay Islands.

According to Lt. Col. Nestor Porlucas, commanding officer of the 79th IB which was formerly assigned in Bohol province, the military will approach the insurgency problem through civil-military operations and not just in combat operations.

He said the military would like to copy the success story in Bohol, where the insurgency has been cleared due to the support and cooperation of local officials and the people.

He stressed the need for an active participation of the local government units in fighting the problem by addressing basic issues such as poverty, food security and infrastructure like farm-to-market roads and other development projects.