15 new Panay CAFGU detachments

ILOILO CITY — The Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade (301 IB) plans to set up 15 more detachments for the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Panay.

Col. Benedict Arevalo, 301 IB commander, said increasing CAFGU detachments is a way of countering the strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the island, which number around 200 guerrillas.

“We should not be complacent because our enemies can become stronger since some of our forces are now outside Panay,” noted Arevalo, who had a courtesy call on Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.

In June last year, NPA rebels stormed the police station of Maasin town, Iloilo, and disarmed the officers on duty. The raid came a day after 525 soldiers from the 82nd Infantry Battalion (82 IB) were pulled out from Iloilo and deployed to Marawi City to fight the Maute terrorist group.

Since then, the NPA has ramped up its attacks in other parts of Panay, including in Antique and Capiz provinces. NPA rebels have also killed and wounded policemen.

There are 42 CAFGU detachments spread across Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo. The 15 new detachments will be established in Calinog, Maasin, Lambunao and Miag-ao towns in Iloilo and Dumarao and Tapaz towns in Capiz.

Arevalo said the new detachments need at least 500 CAFGU volunteers. Recruitment has started.