By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent
TANDAG, Surigao del Sur–The Armed Forces moved an entire Army battalion from Mindoro to Surigao del Sur this week to beef up government forces that are fighting communist rebels in Caraga.
Army Lt. Alfredo Bagbag carried a military AR 15 rifle, pouches of extra bullets, and a longing for his family when he and the rest of 16th Infantry Battalion arrived in this town on Wednesday.
The Army battalion–around 500 men and officers–was airlifted from Mindoro Island on an Air Force C130 plane for deployment against communist rebels who hold a sizable territory in the province.
There are now four army battalions operating in Surigao del Sur, mostly targeting the Andap Valley complex where most of the rebels are believed to be hiding.
“But I am glad we were deployed here. It is nearer to home and my family,” Bagbag, who hails from Zamboanga del Sur.
On their arrival at the Tandag airport, Bagbag immediately sought fellow army officers asking for the best travel route to Zamboanga del Sur where he left his family.
Bagbag, commander of Charlie Company, said it was hard for a soldier to see his children growing up without his presence.
“I only see them twice a year during my visits. I am hoping I can visit them more now that my battalion is deployed here in Surigao del Sur,” he said.
Lt. Col. Andres Ferrer, commander of the 16th Infantry Battalion, said being a soldier is difficult for the families that are left behind.
Ferrer said he too has a family left behind in Iloilo which he rarely sees.
“That is why I explained to them before we left that we as soldier have a sacrifice to make. This is our job,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer said many of his men did not have the time to see and bade their families goodbye when they left for Surigao del Sur.
“We just have to man up our emotions. We are professional soldiers and we have a duty to serve the people in Surigao del Sur,” Ferrer said.
Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel welcomed the 16th Infantry Battalion when it arrived at Tandag airport.
Pimentel said he had asked for more army battalions for deployment to end the problem of insurgency that has plagued their province since 1979.
“Our prayers have been heard. We welcome you here knowing that you can help solve the insurgency problem in our problems,” he said.
Pimentel said their province ranks third nationwide with the number of New People’s Army rebels operating. He said the other provinces with an insurgency problems are Compostela Valley province and Davao Oriental.
“Come election time, these rebels will again harass candidates campaigning in their bailiwicks. These have to stop,” he said.
Pimentel said he sees no problem with the deployment of more troops even if most of the human rights groups and militant left accused the military for the death of a lumad school director and two others in Lianga, Surigao del Sur last August.
“There is no clear evidence that the military is behind the killings or that they are supporting the lumad killers,” Pimentel told reporters
Pimentel said he is satisfied that the Philippine National Police have put bounties of P1.2 million each for the arrest of suspected Mangahat members Bobby Tejero; hisolder brother Layno and Garito Layno.
He said the bounty money will one day help authorities arrest the three suspects who were believed to be responsible for the murders of Emerito Samarca, Executive Director of the Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood Development, a school for lumads; and NGO leaders Dionel Campos and Bello Sinzo.
“The rest of the demands made by the evacuees and human rights groups are not doable in the level of provincial government,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said the demands that could not be met by the provincial government are: pullout of all military troops; suspension of military operations; and resumption of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.
He said at least 1,000 evacuees are still at the Tandag sports center too scared to go back home with the ongoing military operations.
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