THE military has deployed an additional artillery unit to Eastern Visayas, boosting its capability in the continuing campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA) in the region.
The 2nd Howitzer Platoon under Bravo Company of the Army’s 3rd Field Artillery Battalion arrived in Samar last Friday, the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID) reported yesterday.
The unit, equipped with two 105mm howitzers, was welcomed by 8th ID chief of staff Col. Cesar Molina.
“Your role is crucial in gaining an advantage to end the insurgency and safeguarding the safety and security of the Eastern Visayas,” Molina told the troops.
“We trust in your abilities to carry out your duties with the utmost professionalism and expertise,” he added.
The platoon will be placed under the command of the Army’s 803rd Brigade.
8th ID spokesman Capt. Jefferson Mariano declined to say which artillery assets are under the 803rd Brigade, for operational security reasons.
The 8th ID said the deployment will “bolster the existing firepower capabilities (of the brigade) towards the total eradication” of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
“They (troops and assets of the platoon) will serve as a support for troops of the Joint Task Force Storm and 8th ID in its campaign of totally eradicating local communists in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas),” the 8th ID said in a statement.
The Armed Forces is aiming to end the decades-old communist insurgency before the end of this year, so it can fully shift to external defense operations, from internal security operations.
