TORCH Represents the guiding path
BOLO Represents the arm to protect
OCTAGON Represents the five provinces under the 8th Infantry Division
801 Represents the numerical name of the Bde
3 STAR Represent Luzon, Visayas and Minadanao (where the unit is ready to serve)
GREEN COLOR Represents the Army color
GOLDEN YELLOW COLOR Represent benevolent
RED COLOR Represents Bravery
HISTORY OF 801 BDE
The 801 Brigade was organized on 01 July 1986 pursuant to General Orders Number 113, HPA dtd June 1986. The 801 Brigade was originally organized as 1/8 Brigade composed of personnel and equipment sourced from the defunct 3/3 Brigade. The Brigade headquarters with is OPCON units, the 19th Infantry Battalion and 52nd Infantry Battalion were deployed in Northern Samar as its designated area of responsibility.
After two years, the 52nd Infantry Battalion was released from the operational control of the Brigade, but four (4) months later, the 8th Special Forces Company was added to the combat units of their Brigade but served for only five (5) months. On 28 April 1989 a Special Forces team left behind and handled the CAFGU training in the Brigade AOR. To contain the growing threat in the Northern Samar, 62nd IB was placed OPCON from 16 Dec 88 to 05 October 1989.
The attack of three (3) Military Detachments in the Catarman and San Isidro on 09 October 1990, necessitated the deployment of additional troops. 8th SF Coy was again placed OPCON to the brigade and deployed to cover Northeast portion of Catarman, Mondragon and Silveno Lobos.
On March 11 1991, the 20th Infantry Battalion also added to the Brigades maneuvering unit and was tasked to cover the whole of Balicuatro NS.
With the implementation of Campaign Plan “LAMBAT BITAG” from 1992 to 1994, the brigades with its operational control units, the 19th Infantry Battalion, 20th Infantry Battalion and 8th Special Forces Company intensified its counter insurgency operations in Northern Samar. This resulted to the clearing of one hundred twenty (120) Barangays from the dissidents terrorist influence, surrender of sixty three (63) party members, four hundred eighteen (418) organized mass base and six thousand six hundred fifty seven (6,657) sympathizers. As a result, the confronted armed group was reduced from seven hundred eighty five (785) to one hundred fifty four (154) including the surrender of ninety one (91) dissident terrorist.
During that period, two (2) Battalions under OPCON to 801st Infantry Brigade were adjudged as the Best Maneuver Battalion Division-Wide for two (2) years and VISCOM-wide as best Battalion in terms of Intelligence.
The normalization of peace and order situation in Northern Samar had convinced higher headquarters to reduce troops in the province for redeployment in a more critical areas in the country.
On 22 April 1997, the 3rd Special Forces Company was released and redeployed in Southern Philippines. This was followed by the pull-out 8th Scout Ranger Company from the area of responsibility on 20 June 1997 for redeployment in Negros Island. With only the 19th Infantry Battalion, higher headquarters saw the need of relinquish portion of its area of responsibility to 803 Brigade.
The Vacuum created due to the pull out OPCON in Northern Samar give the local communist movement enough space for their usual guerrilla activities and busted their recovery and expansion efforts. On 16 April 1998, the 801ST Infantry Brigade was deactivated.
On 01 May 2000, the 801ST brigade was again reactivated with its personnel and equipment source from 8TH Infantry Division and its subordinate units. Barely few days after reactivation, the brigade was moved from its temporary station in Camp Lukban,Catbalogan, Samar and was airlifted to Camp Dagohoy, Tagbilaran City in the province of Bohol as its temporary CP. The unit took operational control of the 12TH Infantry Battalion. 7TH SF Company and the 12TH SR Company.
The Brigade with its operational control units had performed professionally that earned the trust and confidence of the people, With the help of the populace in the area, the unit has successfully launched and intensified its offensive operation that resulted to four (4) government initiated engagement with recovery of (11) high power fire arms, eleven (11) communication equipment and neutralization of (12) DTs. This tangible accomplishment had earned the brigade distinct credit and was adjudged as the best brigade of the 8TH infantry division for the period.
On 16 March 2001, the 801ST infantry Brigade was pulled back to region 8 and redeployed in Western Samar. With early three months and twenty (20) days in its new AOR the Brigade with its OPCON units had already set initial gains, A total of four (4) high HPFAs power fire arms were recovered by 52ND Infantry Battalion from the enemy through government initiated engagement. A total of eight (8) low powered firearms were also recovered by 34TH Infantry Battalion from the political armed groups LPFAs during election period.
To date, the Brigade is stationed at Camp Daza, Fatima, Hinabangan, Samar while its operation control units the 52ND Infantry Battalion is based at Brgy Bitaog-Lawaan, Eastern Samar, 82ND RC based at Brgy Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar and the 83RC at Brgy Fatima, Bagakay, Samar.
On 29 June 2002, 14 IB was redeployment from its area of operation in Eastern Samar to SOUTHCOM AOR. On 28 June 2003, barely one (1) year and twenty days combating the ASG and MILF in Jolo, Sulo, the battalion was pulled back to its former AOR. Presently, the Battalion Headquarters is based in Brgy Dao, Oras, ESamar.
On 12 August 2003, Hqs 8ID issued warning order that upon arrived of 62IB in Samar Island, the unit was placed, OPCON to 801st Infantry Brigade and will be co-located temporarily with the Brigade Headquarters for the purpose of Battalion retraining. Finally. On 18 August 2003, 62IB disembarked Catbalogan Port via Philippine Navy vessel from Mindanao after nine (9) years of remarkable service to the people in Mindanao. On 26 August 2003, the Battalion Retraining was contributed by the unit and was deployed covering the fifteen (15) municipalities of Eastern Samar from Sulat to Lawaan and Marabut in Samar.
On January 2004, COL NAPOLEON B MALANA INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 801st Infantry Brigade, relinquished his command to the successor officer-in-charge LTC FELIX Y ESPERA (INF) PA, with MAJOR GENERAL GLENN J RABONZA AFP, Commanding General 8th Infantry Division, Phil Army as the presiding officer.
