78th IB is now under 8th Infantry Division

CEBU, Philippines – Because of the troop movement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Central Visayas in connection with the aim to totally eradicate the insurgency in 2010, the 78th Infantry Battalion was transferred under the supervision of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division that is based in Samar province.

The formal transfer of unit was done in a simple ceremony yesterday attended by the division commander, Brig. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero at the 78th IB headquarters in sitio Imaculada, barangay Nangka in Balamban, Cebu.

Tabaquero told The FREEMAN that it was agreed by the higher headquarters that the 62nd Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division now assigned to Negros Island will be swapped with the 78th IB of the 3rd Infantry Division. The 78th IB is led by Lt.Col. Raymundo Bañares.

Tabaquero, who is rumored to be one of the possible candidates to become the Central Command’s commander, said in an interview with The FREEMAN that the transfer will not in any sense affect the security in Cebu.

CentCom has already given the 8th ID additional units like one Scout Ranger Company, two Reconnaissance Company and two quotas of Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit to augment the present strength of the said division. These forces are now deployed in some places in Western Samar and Bohol that were vacated by the 62nd IB and the other battalions that were deployed to Mindanao.

Tabaquero said there will be no operational changes on the transfer of the 78th IB to his division because the battalion’s achievement is exemplary in the operations against insurgents.

“Not a single shot was heard in Cebu ever since Bañares took over the battalion but still very effective. So there is no use of transferring them,” Tabaquero said.

The battalion successfully recovered several high and low powered firearms and ammunitions, apprehended key guerilla front secretaries for the past months without a firefight.

But Bañares said the success of the campaign against insurgency in Cebu was not made possible without the help from the local government units that were the ones providing livelihood projects, cash rewards and other benefits for those who opted to surrender their firearms in exchange for their coming back to the folds of the law.

Bañares said the government have already tried and failed in addressing the insurgency through gun battles in different areas, but with the help of the LGUs’ and the AFP’s programs, little-by little, the insurgents laid down their arms and go back to their normal lives in the community.

Tabaquero also awarded Military Merit Medal and Commendation Medal to two officers and two enlisted men and other commendations to civilian personalities present in the ceremony. — Edwin Ian Melecio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)