Central Command sends a platoon to Leyte

CEBU, Philippines – A troop from one of the three companies of the 78th Infantry Battalion was deployed to the province of Leyte last week of June to increase number of troops of the 19th IB based there and help address the already down-graded insurgency problem in the area.

Lt. Gen. Isagani Cachuela, commander of Central Command, revealed this during his first visit to the 78th IB headquarters in Barangay Nangka, Balamban after he assumed his new position a month ago.

1Lt. Jaycris Mendoza, operations officer of the 78th IB, said a total of 27 members or equivalent to one platoon of the Charlie Company of the said battalion was deployed to Leyte and serves as a detach service of the 19th IB based in Canangga town.

Mendoza said the order came from Col. Allan Luga of 802nd Brigade based in Bohol. Luga operationally controls the troop but is now under the 78th IB headed by Lt. Col. Raymundo Bañares, Jr.

Mendoza said the deployment of the troop to another province was aimed to assist the 19th IB headed by Lt. Col. Roberto Capulong.

According to Cachuela, the move does not mean that the area is rebel infested because the insurgency problem there was actually downgraded. The deployment was basically for assistance to the 19th IB and establishing their name in the area.

Mendoza said the remaining 53 members of the Charlie Company of the 78th IB will be later on gradually deployed to Leyte after familiarizing the area. Both the Alpha and Bravo companies remain at the 78th IB headquarters in Balamban.

Cachuela said he will soon be realigning other battalion units in his area of responsibility in the whole Visayas.

His first visit yesterday at the 78th IB headquarters was purposely to orient his self of his other areas of responsibility, meet officers and men, and to issue guidelines regarding the Internal Security Operations of the battalion.

Cachuela said that since he assumed as the new Central Command commander a month ago, he has been visiting several units in Central Visayas; the recent was in Panay Island. The next that he will visit is Region 8. — Niña G. Sumacot/WAB (THE FREEMAN)