ADDITIONAL TROOPS. The newly-deployed soldiers in Northern Samar province during a welcome ceremony in Palo town, Leyte province on Feb. 20, 2023. The soldiers are tasked to help suppress the New People's Army in Northern Samar, considered the last bastion of insurgency in the country.(PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano) PALO, Leyte - The Philippine Army has welcomed the arrival of two battalions from Mindanao tasked to help suppress the New People's Army (NPA) in Northern Samar province, considered the last bastion of insurgency in the country. The Army's 8th Infantry Division formally welcomed around 1,000 soldiers from the 74th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 42nd IB during a ceremony at the Government Center here late Monday. Before their deployment in the region, the 74th IB troopers fought the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan province. The unit also took part in the campaigns of the Western Mindanao Command under the Operational Control of Joint Task Force Zamboanga. The 42nd IB was