LEGAZPI CITY---With losses of over P10 million from attacks of the communist insurgents in Masbate, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has sent a “whole force of 9th Infantry Battalion” in the island-province to go after them and protect the French government’s on-going solar panel project there.

        “We will go after the terrorist insurgents operating in M asbate who are now terrorizing the Paris-Manila Technology Corporation (Pamatec). The Pamatec is implementing the solar panel project financed by the French government. Last month, they torched the solar panel of Pamatec because it failed to pay the revolutionary tax,” Col. Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division of the AFP in-charge of the counterinsurgency operations in Bicol.

        Since last month, Masbate has experienced heightened communist insurgents’ operations that killed several soldiers and destroyed several properties including the bombed Globe telecommunications facilities, aside from the P10-million worth of losses Pamatec suffered from the attacks.

        Bernardo said that aside from the additional battalion force, the police regional mobile group also has been augmented to chase the communist insurgents out of the island-province.

        With boldness, the New People’s Army Jose Rapsing Command operating in Masbate province had launched series of attacks even during the visit of President Macapagal-Arroyo last July 15.

        The communist insurgents launched the attack against government forces securing the Masbate province during the presidential visit before the expected arrival of Ms. Arroyo in Placer town where the joint meeting with the Cabinet, the National Disaster and Coordinating Council (NDCC), and the Regional Development Council (RDC) was held.

        But the president ignored the security concerns and pushed through with the scheduled meeting in Placer, Masbate. Fortunately, no incident took place in the area.

        In the ensuing hot pursuit operation of government soldiers, Lt. Col. Claudio Yucot, who led the operation, recovered two M16 rifles after a clash with communist insurgents in Casabangan, Pio V. Corpus, Masbate.

        Bernado said the success of the hot pursuit operation that yielded the high-powered guns was “the result of the military’s relentless and intensified combat operation in the area with timely accurate information given by the community who has shown their anger against the terrorists.”

        The Army officer claimed that support of the community to the Army was their revenge against the communist insurgents who destroyed a project that would eventually benefit the poor with solar power.

        Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta, commander of the 9th ID, said that the counter-insurgency campaign against the communist insurgents will continue without let up as more troops are being deployed across Bicol Region.

        Sodusta added that the newly trained Army recruits are also sent to field operations to augment the 10,000 government combatants to beef up the present anti-insurgency forces in the six provinces of Bicol.