DUMAGUETE CITY — Insurgency-affected barangay or villages in Negros Oriental have requested for the establishment of additional detachments of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) of the Philippine Army in view of recent sightings of armed rebels in Bindoy, Ayungon, Tayasan, Manjuyod, and Mabinay or the BATMAN-NAY areas.
The request came over the weekend amidst massive recruitment activities allegedly by the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP/NPA) in the villages of Nalundan and Cabcaban in Bindoy, Pansiao in Manjuyod as well as in adjoining barangays.
Members of the joint municipal peace and order councils of these five local government units (LGUs) approved the request through a resolution addressed to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by the governor.
Board Member Jessica Villanueva, chairman of the peace and order committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, who was also present during the recent joint peace and order council meeting, assured the body of her full support when the same is tackled.
For his part, 62nd Infantry Battalion commanding officer Lt. Col. Darrell Banez said it is not that easy to establish a detachment as it requires substantial funding.
However, LGUs concerned may contribute from their respected budgets in the absence of any allocation from the General Appropriations Act for the additional recruitment and training.
He said the minimum requirement for one CAFGU company is 125 personnel who will be trained for at least three months at the cost of PHP3 million more or less including the provision of uniforms, combat boots and monthly allowance of PHP4,500 each.
Mabinay Mayor Ernie T. Uy said that aside from sourcing the funds from the provincial government, concerned LGUs can contribute in shouldering the expenses or move for realignments as members of the PPOC.
Banez reported during the joint MPOC meeting over the weekend that from a total of 160 SCAAs budgeted by the province including their rice subsidy, only about 40 have remained. Some of them left their work because of delayed arrival of their honorariums.
According to Villanueva, the SCAAs have to wait for six to eight months for their monthly allowance, prompting a number of them to leave. (PNA)
