The scout ranger contingent of 500 from different companies throughout the country that arrived Saturday has started retraining at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay, Negros Oriental.

The retraining, reorganization and consolidation will last for three months.

Lt Col. Nestor Flordeliza, who, incidentally, hails from Taclobo, Dumaguete City, and is presently the assistant chief of staff for logistics, said the SR battalion will only be in the province to reorganize, as they come from different companies.

Aside from the battalion in the Visayas, another battalion will also be formed in Luzon and in Mindanao.

After reorganizing, the army scout rangers will undergo a brief retraining for a quick glance of new faces within the ranks, study and acquaint themselves, and learn each other's attitudes and capabilities so that, when they are in the combat zone, everybody knows everybody.

Officials of the army scout ranger battalion paid a courtesy call at the governor's office.

The 17 officers who compose the battalion is headed by Col. Nestor Buan, the army officer held hostage by NPA guerillas and released recently.

They are requesting for help from the governor, especially with their supply of water in the camp.

Meanwhile, Gov. George Arnaiz viewed the arrival of the scout ranger battalion in a different way.

Arnaiz said it will boost the tourism industry in Negros Oriental as well as the economic situation. He said they will surely eat and spend money in Negros Oriental.

This was also experienced before in Pamplona when the 57th IB was stationed there several years ago.

The governor added that their presence is psychologically good for Negros Oriental.*AP