Military, police realign forces in Negros island

Military and police units in the hinterlands of northern Negros island are planning to realign their forces amid tactical operations by the communist New People’s Army (NPA), a news site reported Saturday. Police 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion head Superintendent Milko Lirazan said they plan to reoccupy an old detachment in San Isidro village in E.B. Magalona town in Negros Occidental, Visayan Daily Star said. This development came after recent NPA operations against military targets and the destruction of private properties in E.B. Magalona town. Suspected rebels burned two farm tractors in San Isidro village two weeks ago. The communist group later trooped to Hacienda Teresa in Alicante village, where the rebels torched another tractor. The burning of the tractors was reportedly due to the refusal of landowners to pay revolutionary taxes. Col. Francisco Patrimonio, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said they are now fast-tracking the construction of a military outpost in San Isidro village. Troopers stationed in Gawahon village will be transferred there. The vacated detachment in Gawahon village will be occupied by troopers of the Public Safety Company of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Lirazan said. The Visayan Daily Star report said the hinterlands of E.B. Magalona has become a security vacuum used by communist rebels as a staging or harboring area for their tactical operations. Meanwhile, Lirazan said some of the rebels who recently raided Hacienda Teresa in have already been identified. But he pointed out witnesses are afraid to execute sworn affidavits that will be needed in the filing of criminal complaints against the suspects. — JE, GMA News