BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — After battling extremists in Mindanao, the Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 will be fighting communist rebels in the Cagayan region.
The Marines arrived at Port Irene in Santa Ana, Cagayan on BRP Tarlac on Friday and will join Joint Task Force Tala in operations against the New People's Army, the military Northern Luzon Command said.
The Marines will operate in seven Cagayan towns — Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Buguey, Camalanlugan, Santa Teresita, Lallo and Aparri.
The deployment of the Marines from Mindanao will allow the Northern Luzon Command to sustain the momentum of security operations against the rebels in Cagayan and in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, Northern Luzon Command chief, said MBLT 8 will contribute to the military's "effort of bringing a lasting peace and sustainable development in Northern Luzon."
The MBLT 8 was previously deployed to Jolo, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, where the military has also been conducting operations against the Abu Sayyaf.