MORE TROOPS DEPLOYED IN MASBATE
…focuses on peacekeeping on election day

MASBATE CITY—In an unprecedented campaign against violent electoral contests in Masbate, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Delfin N. Bangit deployed a new battalion to help the Commission on Election preserve peace and order and protect voters when they troop to the polling places next month.

With the deployment of a new battalion Friday morning (April 16), a total of two Army battalions now work protecting Masbate, an island-province with long history of political violence.

The 85th Infantry Battalion, headed by Col. Lope Dagoy and composed of 250 officers and men who have just arrived from their peacekeeping missions in conflict areas in Africa and Haiti, was newly activated by the Philippine Army to boost the 9th Infantry Battalion under the command of Col. Anthony Purugganan.

With the recent spate of violence in Masbate involving suspected armed goons of warring political groups, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said the 85th Infantry Battalion will be invaluable in restoring order in the province.

The new battalion will focus on peacekeeping in the second congressional district, where reelection-seeking Rep. Antonio Kho, the patriarch of the long-reining political family in the province, is pitted against a newly retired police general, Darius Tuason.

Gonzales, here with Bangit and the head and members of the Independent Commission Against Private Armies presiding over the deployment, said the troops will stop the armed goons of politicians from sowing terror during the election period.

“Lilinisin natin ang Masbate sa mga undesirable elements,” he said.

State forces have identified 10 private armed groups in Masbate, Gonzales said.

Since January, the island-province was placed under special police watch until the end of the election period.

On the other hand, Bangit said the troops will help finally end Masbate’s reputation as a sanctuary for political leaders’ gun-for-hires.

“Hindi dapat magkaroon ng reputasyon ang Masbate bilang taguan ng mga mamatay-tao. Ipinadala kayo rito para matigil na ito,” Bangit said. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate/MALCID)