Originally,
the unit’s name was “Bloodhound” which means a blood snipping dog used to track
down the enemy by power of smell and can contain them vigorously in any
opportune time regardless of weather, terrain and situation. The unit has
proven it worth on early 50s during HukBalahap
Campaign in Luzon and as Philippine
Expeditionary Forces in Korea (PEFTOK). However, after returning back in the
motherland from Korea Mindanao the unit was
reactivated as Infantry Battalion. The
unit Logo was change from “Bloodhound” to “Commando” during the time of then
COL RUPERTO A AMBIL JR as battalion commander.
The
name “COMMANDO” means action, command, do or take charge of an immediate
action. Historically, Commando units of the British and Australian Armies were
the elite units that accomplished legendary feats during the 2nd
World War. They were noted for daring and extra-ordinary combat skills in the Philippines AFP
is also called COMMANDO or V-150 indicative of the combat effectiveness and
readiness of the vehicle. The vehicle is light, fast, armored protected,
adequately armed and can operate in the most difficult terrain. These
capabilities aptly describe a COMMANDO.
The
patch and the seal of the Battalion is round bright green shield bordered with
gold braid. At the center of the shield is the numerical number 19 which is the
Army unit designation and superimposed on the number is a golden dog leaping
passing thru the window of number 9. Significantly, the shield is a protection
against any direct assault to a person holding it or persons who need
protection. The gold braid around the edge of the shield denotes honor and
nobility of purpose, the green color of the shield means youth and vigor. It
personifies the composition of its personnel during its early organizational
stage who were mostly in their twenties and the existing vigor both of the body
and mind of all its members. The number 19 is colored bright red to denote
courage. The golden dog leaping up is an attacking dog. It exemplifies the
ability in the animal which is often stronger than man; speed; strength;
ferocity and alertness. The dog is a faithful guardian since he is gifted with
keen sense of smell and sight and can easily discriminate a friend from a foe.
The word COMMANDO is emblazoned in red letter inside the shield below the number
19.
UNIT HISTORY
On 01 November
1973, at the
height of the secessionist movement in Mindanao, the 19th Infantry (BLOODHOUND) Battalion was activated
pursuant to General Orders Number 44,
Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Brigade (SEPARATE) Philippine Army dated
31 October 1973, During its activation, MAJOR DIMAS S NUÑEZ was initially
designated as the Acting Battalion Commander. Six hundred thirty (630) trainees
to include the enlisted personnel responded to the call of an immediate
training at Camp Downes ,
Ormoc City
for ALPHA, BRAVO, and Headquarters Service Companies while CHARLIE Company was
trained at Camp Lapulapu ,
Cebu City Cebu
City to Ormoc City
On 01 January 1974 , MAJOR NUÑEZ was replaced by LIEUTENANT
COLONEL RAUL T AQUINO PA as its Battalion Commander. On 16 July 1974 , newly trained Officers and men were
transported from Ormoc
City AOR namely:
Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Buluan and Mariano Marcos.
On 12 February 1976, LTC AQUINO was replaced by LIEUTENANT COLONEL
VICENTE M OCAMPO PA. The unit gained recognition as it performs its mission and
established good rapport and harmonious relation with the civilian populace. On 01 July 1978, the courageous
LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDUARDO “LAGALAG” FERNANDEZ PA took over as the Commanding
Officer of the unit from LTC
OCAMPO. Two (2) months later, the Battalion was transferred from Buluan,
Maguindanao to Pualas, Lanao del Sur.
Due to its remarkable accomplishments in combat, the unit was awarded
with the Commanding General, 3rd Infantry Division, PA Streamer for
Calendar Year 1978.
On
30 September 1978 – MAJOR RICARDO MIÑOZA PA
was designated as the Acting Commanding Officer of the battalion and was
relieved on 15 October 1978
by LIEUTENANT COLONEL GILBERT EAMIGUEL PA.
On 09 February 1979 – MAJOR ALEJANDRO B TRESPECES JR PA
took over and on 25 May 1979 ,
the unit transferred to Catbalogan, Samar and
arrived on 28 May 1979 . On 01 January 1981 , the Battalion Headquarters
was transferred to Brgy Trinindad, Calbayog
City with the arrival of Eastern
Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines
On
01 March 1984 After five years of guiding
the unit, COLONEL TRESPECES was replaced by MAJOR CONSTANCIO A MIÑOZA PA as the
Acting Battalion Commander steering the unit in attaining its mission.
On 21 February 1985 – LIEUTENANT COLONEL CESAR C URSAL PA
took over as the new Battalion Commander. On 21 February 1985 , the Battalion was again
transferred to Brgy Rawis, Laoang, Northern Samar .
On 21 June 1985, MAJOR TEODORO V ILAGAN
PA, the Executive Officer of the battalion, acted as transition commander upon
the relief of COL URSAL.
On 01 July 1985, MAJ ILAGAN was replaced by LIEUTENANT COLONEL
WILLIAM AGAZA PA. It was at his time that the unit was at its ebb due to the
casualties resulting from a series of encounters.
On 15 February 1986 – LTC
AGAZA was relieved temporarily by COLONEL RUPERTO A AMBIL JR MNSA (FA) PA. It
was during the time of COLONEL AMBIL JR that the name of the 19th
Infantry Battalion was changed from BLOODHOUND to COMMANDO in which series of
Commando type training was conducted. The stature of the unit started to
recover.
On 01 April 1986 – COLONEL AMBIL was relieved and
LIEUTENANT COLONEL SERGIO L SUMALINOG PA took over. During his tenure as Battalion Commander, the
late TSg Memerto Dionio (Inf) PA was awarded with Distinguish Conduct Star (DCS ), for successfully defending the Nenita Patrol
Base, Brgy Nenita, Mondragon, Northern Samar
against more or less one hundred fifty (150) DTs/NPA attackers on 15 July 1987 .
On 30 June 1988 , LIEUTENANT COLONEL GREGORIO C RAMOS JR
PA took charge upon LTC SUMALINOG
relief. It was during the incumbency of LTC
RAMOS that this unit was selected as the Battalion of the Year in the year 1989
within 8th Infantry Division.
On 01 September 1989, a swift
transition of command occurred upon the relief of LTC
RAMOS . He was succeeded by LIEUTENANT COLONEL GODOFREDO C MELAD (INF ) PA who maneuvered the unit efficiently despite
his short stint as a commander.
On
15 January 1990 . MAJOR RICARDO G VALUIS JR (INF ) PA took office. During his term as Battalion
Commander, the unit was adjudged as the
number one (1) Battalion in COIN operations within VISCOM area for the first
Quarter of Calendar Year 1990, awarded
as the Best Maneuver Battalion of 8ID, PA during the same year, adjudged as the Best Maneuver Battalion of
the 8ID, PA, CG 8ID Streamer Awardee, 1st Battalion to clear two (2)
Guerilla Fronts ahead of the given time frame set forth by higher headquarters
and 3rd placer as the Best Battalion of the Year 1992 Philippine Army
wide respectively and awarded as the
best Maneuver Battalion of the 8ID, PA for Calendar Year 1993.
On 13 May 1994 , LTC
VALUIS JR was relieved and replaced by COLONEL PLARIDEL S OBRIQUE MNSA (INF )
PA. At his time, the battalion participated in an intensive campaign in COIN
operations and took part in a massive province-wide economic development
transition earning accolades both in the military and civilian sectors.
On 20 June 1995, COL OBRIQUE was
relieved and a new helm of leadership was bestowed to a dynamic officer in the
person of MAJOR PEDRO L FLORIDA (INF )
PA (also promoted LTC ) who further
intensified the gains of the previous commanders.
On 31 March 1998 – LTC
FLORIDA LTC
ALEXANDER D CABALES (INF ) PA.
During his short term as the Commanding Officer of the unit, LTC CABALES implemented successfully the task of
the unit in assisting the PNP
personnel/COMELEC Officials in the province for peaceful local and national
elections in the AOR last 11 May 1998 .
On 14 May 1998, LTC
CABALES was relieved and replaced by LTC
RESTITUTO G DURAN JR (INF ) PA who
intensified the conduct of TRIAD mixed operations in the AOR . For a
short period of time under his leadership the unit started to regain its lost
glory and his initiatives became fruitful.
The unit had raided four (4) enemy camps that resulted to the killing of
one (1) DT leader identified as KA HUFO (TNU) and the recovery of one (1) U. S
Rifle Cal 5.56 sub machinegun M653P; One
(1) Caliber .38 revolver; and assorted war material/equipment and
inflicted undetermined numbers of
wounded DTs. Based on the Quarterly
Battalion Evaluation Standard Test for Operations for 3rd Qtr CY 98,
conducted by G3, 8ID, PA the unit under
the command of LTC DURAN JR PA was
declared number three (3) passing the five (5) Infantry Battalions in the
entire 8ID, PA.
On 08 February 1999 , LTC
DURAN was relieved and replaced by LTC RODRIGO S DINGLE INF
(GSC) PA. During his incumbency as a Battalion Commander, LTC DINGLE intensifies the conduct of ISO in the AOR . For a
brief period of time, the unit was able to exterminate/neutralize three (3) TDs
who were identified as DTL Rogelio
BANTILO @ Petre/Pedie/Pepe CO, Dragon Squad, Rodulfo Gorpido Command (RGC ) FGU, NFC II
and two (2) were identified only through their aliases as Ka LIZA &
Ka PACUT and recovered three (3) caliber
5.56mm M16 rifles, two (2) caliber 7.62mm M14 rifles, nine (9) caliber .38
revolver, seventeen (17) Homemade shotgun and various war
material/equipment. Also numerous
DTs safehouses/encampment were
discovered/neutralized by the unit. With
his valuable accomplishment, the unit was adjudged number two (2) for the 1st
Qtr, number three (3) for 2nd Qtr and number one (1) for 3rd
Qtr all for CY 1999 as best battalion for internal Security Operations (ISO) by
8ID, PA. For the first month of year
2000, the unit once again has gained significant accomplishment for recovery of
two (2) high powered firearms (1 M14
rifle and 1 M1 Garand) and neutralizing six (6) TDs four (4) of whom were
identified as DTL Pacifico SURIO @
Rocky/Nillion/Aser, CO, Unit “BULIG”, Rodulfo Gorpido Command (RGC ), FGU, NFC – II, Riza Benito @ Riza daughter of
late DTL Rogelio Bantilo @
Pedie/Pewtre/Pepe, Indong NORCIO @
Beloy, Danilo Montera and two (2) unidentified
close-in security of DTL
Pacifico Surio and Five (5) wounded
identified only through their aliases as Aka MICO, Aka MARIBEL, Aka ROY,
Aka MAX and Aka Ben.
With his dynamic leadership, the unit remains in the province
of Northern Samar
On 07 February 2000 – LTC
DINGLE was relieved and replaced by
MAJOR ROMEO C ARGENIO (INF )
PA . After almost seventeen (17) years stint at Brgy Rawis, Laoang, Northern
Samar the unit changed its station to Brgy Opong, Catubig, Northern
Samar on 19 July
2001 . As a Battalion
Commander, he intensified series of
aggressive offensive small unit operations against the remnants of DTs in the AOR
which resulted to the killing (BC) of eighteen (18) DTs, the surrender of six
(6) DT members, the captured/apprehension
of five (5) DTs and the recovery of
eleven (11) HPFAs. With eight (8)
encounters through out the year, the unit made history as it did not incur any
casualty from among its rank and the period also marked the dreaded “Mapanas attack” .The year was profound glory
for the commando’s as the 8th Division candidate for the Best
Maneuver Battalion within VISCOM AOR
CY 2000; on the same year, the 6th
Northern Samar CAFGU Active Auxiliary
Company also won for the unit as CAFGU Company of the year for the entire Visayas area.
On 19 November 2001 – 19th Infantry (Commando)
Battalion was moved to perform a mission in Mindanao .
During the tension in Jolo following the attacks by the MNLF on 19 November 2001 the 19IB
was airlifted by C-130 Hercules Plane from Catarman, Northern Samar to Zamboanga City 21 November 2001 . It stayed in Zamboanga City
On 24 November 2001 – the Battalion was moved to Jolo to
augment the forces thereat. In response to the Cabatangan crisis (MNLF hostage
taking) it was again brought to Zamboanga
City MBG )
which resulted to the recovery of one (1)M16 rifle and one (1) enemy killed
(BC).
19IB
was redeployed to Quinipot – Curuan areas to assist 57th Infantry
Battalion in checking the presence of
renegade factions. When the 57IB left the East coast on 30 December 2001 , 19IB
took over the area vacated by said battalion and effectively accomplished said
mission until its pull out. On 0955H March 2002 the unit was airlifted by C-130
Hercules Plane from Edwin Andrew Airbase, Zamboanga City to Ormoc City Camp Downes , Ormoc
City
On 01 July 2002, the unit transferred
to its new Battalion Headquarters at Brgy Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte with only
two (2) buildings (Admin building and BOQ).
On 05 July 2002, the unit held its 23rd Turn-Over of Command Ceremony. MAJOR ARGENIO
PA was relieved and replaced by LTC
OSCAR T LACTAO (INF ) PA. Upon his assumption of command, LTC LACTAO strictly imposed the higher headquarters
policy of not allowing military dependents to stay inside the Battalion
Headquarters as well as at Company/Patrol bases. It was during his tour of
duty, that a section led by 2LT ONOFRE N NELMIDA (CAV )
PA neutralized a platoon of Wendel
Dulinog Command operating in Kananga-Ormoc City with nine (9) enemy killed
(Body Count), the recovery of two (2) Garand Rifles Serial Numbers 6785449 and
450888 with ten (10) clips and seventy five (75) rounds of ammunitions, two (2)
Carbines bearing Serial Numbers 623838 and 6429402 with two (2) magazines and
eighteen (18) rounds of ammunitions, two
(2) homemade shotguns with three (3) rounds of ammunitions, two (2) fragmentary
Grenades, one (1) NPA flag, subversive documents, CT personal belongings and
wallet of late Brgy Kagawad of San
Isidro, Kananga, Leyte Alan Acebedo which was found in the pants of Eugenio
“Gene” TAZAN Jr with no casualty in the government side.
On 02 June 2003, After one (1) year stint
as Battalion Commander, LTC LACTAO
PA was relieved and replaced by LTC
RESTITUTO T SANTOS (INF ) PA. As
the newly installed Battalion Commander of the unit, he implemented and
facilitated improvement of the Battalion facilities. Among of those was the installation
of water reservoirs, reconstruction of EP Mess hall, Motor pool parking shed,
gas dump, Officers quarters, guard towers and encouraged farming among the
soldiers.
On 240800 June 2003, barely twenty two
(22) days upon the assumption of command, this unit under the command of this
courageous Battalion Commander, fortunately gained initial accomplishment in
it’s ISO campaign against the CTs remnants in AOR ,
when the operating platoon composed of one (1) Section from Bravo Coy under 2LT
JOSEPH D BUGAOAN (INF ) PA and one
(1) section from Recon Platoon of HHS
Coy under 2LT ONOFRE N NELMIDA (CAV ) PA at the vicinity of Sitio Combis, Brgy
Luneta, Lapaz, Leyte had a successful encounter resulting to the recovery of
one (1) M16A1 rifle with defaced serial, one (1) M1 Carbine rifle SN: 5567099,
one (1) Rifle Grenade, one (1) HMSG locally known as Bardog and voluminous
subversive documents with high intelligence value and inflicting fatalities on
the enemy side. On 02 March
2004 , the unit once again gained significant accomplishment in its
ISO campaign when the operating troops of Charlie Company discovered an enemy
encampment being occupied by more or less thirty (30) fully armed CTs at Sitio Guinduwaan, Brgy
Wague, Leyte-Leyte which resulted to a bloody firefight. The operating troops recovered one (1) M16
rifle and inflicted one (1) killed (BC) on the enemy side while one (1) EP (SSg
Aniga) was wounded on the government side.
This was followed by the
capture/apprehension of CT top leader
thru intelligence operation on 19 March 2004 identified as Nathaniel Agustin Y del Pilar alias
Wilson/Reagan Vice CO, SECOCOM I, NLF at Brgy Mahayag, Ormoc City.
On
05 April 2004, due to the series of atrocities perpetrated by the CTs against
the PNOC that caused heavy damage to some of its installation and the killing
of three (3) employees of said company, Alpha Coy this unit was displaced from
its former Area of operations at Albuera, Leyte and redeployed at the PNOC
complex to secure facilities/installation of PNOC. At the onset of 1st quarter 2005,
the unit gained series of significant accomplishment in its ISO campaign with
three (3) successful government initiated encounters and one (1) raid with resistance that resulted to the recovery of several war materials and equipments to
include eight (8) clamor mines with 400
meters detonating wire, 4 Fragmentary
hand grenade and one (1) cal .45 pistol; inflicted one (1) killed body count
(Amazon); the capture of seventeen (17) CTs
personalities including three (3)
amazons; the surrender of five (5) CTs hardcore member and the
discovery/neutralization CTs biggest encampment at Purok 7, Brgy Mahayag, Ormoc
City.
Significantly, as per
directive from H8ID, on 01 July 2003, 2LT JEANELINE L SIDDAYAO (FS) PA became
the first female officer assigned to this unit and on 16 December 2003, PVT IVY
DEFENSOR became the first enlisted woman assigned to this unit, both were
assigned to perform combat service support and admin tasks. LTC SANTOS left a
legacy of effective and efficient management both on operations and in
administrative aspect.
On 01 July 2005, after two (2) years of
incumbency, LTC SANTOS was
replaced by MAJ LOPE C DAGOY INF (GSC) PA as Commanding Officer. On 04July 2005, barely a week of taking post,
operating troops under 2LT SIBULLAS
inflicted two (2) killed CTs (BC) and two (2) M16 rifle in an encounter
with more or less fifteen fully armed CTs. Four days after, another running gun
battle ensued with an end result of one (1) dead CT (BC) and the recovery of
one (1) Ingram machine pistol.
As Commanding Officer of the 19IB, 8ID, PA from 30 June
2005 to date, imbued with professional competence and sterling leadership, Just six (6) months into
his incumbency, LTC DAGOY caused the dissolution of the notorious Leyte Island
Committee (LIC) of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) here in
Leyte and the consequent merging of Northwest
Leyte Front (NWLF) and Northeast Leyte Front (NELF) into what is known now as
Northern Leyte Front (NLF) in January 2006. The neutralization of CTL Nestor
CALIWAN @USMAN, CO, Island Operational Command (IOC) codenamed Mount Amandewin
Command, who was killed in an encounter with Command Troopers on 26 January 2006 , preluded
the systematic defeat of the communist terrorists (CTs) here in Leyte . He stirred the unit towards a well-sustained ISO
having conducted effective battalion-initiated, company-initiated, and small
unit-initiated operations jointly with the Tactical Operations Group 8 of the
Philippine Air Force that resulted to the following: nineteen
(19) government initiated encounters, seven
(7) raids, one
(1) air strike. All of these have
effected the neutralization of one hundred four
(104) communist terrorists (CTs) broken down as follows: thirty (30) killed (BC), eleven
(11) wounded, twenty one (21) captured, seventeen apprehended/arrested, one hundred thirty (130) surrendered, and two (2) minor combatants rescued; the recovery of the following: thirty seven (37) high powered firearms, one hundred sixty seven (167) low powered firearms, thirty two (32) enemy encampments, and ten (10) safe houses; and the confiscation of one thousand four hundred twenty five (1,425) board
feet of Narra flitches and two thousand four hundred
twenty six (2,426) board feet of Lawaan flitches. On intelligence, he
orchestrated a deliberate and accurate understanding of the doctrinal enemy –
knowing the communist terrorists better – among his troops and his officers, in
particular. This translated into the formulation of the unit’s Intelligence
Project codenamed “Magnifier” targeting the leadership of Northern Leyte Front
(NLF) and the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC). Thus far, this
project has resulted to the neutralization of eight
(8) among the eleven (11) ranking committee
members of Northern Leyte Front (NLF) and one
(1) ranking committee member of the Regional White Area Committee (RWAC),
EVRPC, to wit: Bibiano RENTILLOSA @ELMO/TOMMY, Secretary, NLF, EVRPC on 11 Sep
2006; Antonio RAMOS @PINGKOY, Secretary, NLF, EVRPC on 25 February 2007, who
replaced RENTILLOSA; Nestor CALIWAN @USMAN, CO, Island Operational Command
(IOC) codenamed Mount Amandewin Command, Leyte Island Committee (LIC) on 26
January 2006; Paterno OPO @NOBLE/LALOY, CO, Front Operational Command (FOC),
NLF on 06 April 2007, who replaced CALIWAN; Leah DELA CRUZ @MAYANG, Secretary,
White Area Committee (WAC), NLF on 28 April 2006; Mamerto OPO @MEMONG,
Secretary, WAC, NLF on 17 April 2007, who replaced DELA CRUZ; Vincent BORJA
@BEBOT/TATA, Execom Member, Regional White Area Committee (RWAC), EVRPC on 07
May 2007; Nilda MONTAJES @LARA, Education Secretary, Southern Leyte Front
(SLF), EVRPC on 21 October 2006; and Arlene RAPADA @ELVIE, Finance Officer, NLF
on 29 June 2006. This practically wiped out the leadership of Northern Leyte
Front (NLF) leaving the CTs with only a handful of their ranking cadres. On
CMO, the unit conducted SOT operations on thirty seven
(37) influenced barangays under the Guerrilla Base (GB) of the CTs in the 4th
District of Leyte and thirteen (13) influenced
barangays in the 3rd District of Leyte that resulted to the
organization of Bantay Bayan (CVOs) in these barangays as
the focal point in defending their communities against the intrusion again of
communist terrorists. This ultimately forced the CTs to vacate the said districts. He
endeavored to enhance the trust and confidence of the
people, businessmen and sugar planters of Leyte by dramatically reducing the incidence
of extortion (revolutionary taxation) perpetrated by the communist terrorists
(CTs), encouraging foreign investments to come in the province. The unit also
spearheaded the rescue of thirty seven
(37) persons (15 families) in Kananga , Leyte due to severe flooding caused by Typhoon “Milenyo”
in September 2006. Known for his strong public relations, LTC DAGOY has been
invited to various symposia and seminars as resource speaker by various
organizations. As a result, he has been
invited as speaker in 75 different occasions. In convergence with different
LGUs, a total of 23 medical and dental activities so far have been initiated by
the unit that benefited 6,345 indigents in different insurgency affected
barangays of Leyte . He also made possible the involvement of
Gawad Kalinga (GK) in a joint undertaking with the unit in order to accommodate
rebel returnees (RR) and be recipients of its housing program as part of their
reintegration into the community. There are now four (4) available GK project
sites in the area of operation (AO) of the unit that the RRs can avail of, subject
to conditions set by GK and the unit. On Legal offensive, the unit spearheaded
the command’s advocacy on Legal Offensive against the communist terrorists
(CTs) by filing the following cases: one (1) obstruction of
justice against Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño; nine (9) rebellion; five (5) illegal possession
of FAs; three
(3) murder; and three (3) illegal assembly charges against the leadership and key
members of Northern Leyte Front (NLF) in Palo, Leyte and in the cities of Ormoc
and Tacloban. As a result, all members of NLF as listed in the Order of Battle (OB) have been charged for various criminal
offenses in the different trial courts of Leyte .
For this the unit has become the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group’s (IALAG)
model in the pursuit of legal actions against the CTs. On unit administration,
LTC DAGOY made sure that these significant accomplishments would never fail him
to give timely recognition and acknowledgement to deserving personnel of his
unit. Appropriate awards, incentives and
rewards pursuant to AFPR G 135-053 and other guidelines relevant thereto were
given to them. To date four hundred twenty (420)
various awards and commendations have so far been given to deserving organic
personnel of the unit, including the promotion of seventy five (75) enlisted
personnel. Most importantly, he made sure that hospitalization and burial
services were provided to the personnel who were wounded and killed in action. Thus far, thirteen (13) wounded in action (WIA) were given proper medical attention,
and two (2)
Killed in Action were given heroes burial. Despite of limited funds, he made
possible the construction and repair of one (1) administrative building, one
(1) EP barracks, officers and EP mess halls, and lights and water facilities as
part of his thrust to enhance comfort and the working condition of the troops.
During the May 14, 2007
synchronized National and Local Elections, the unit, in close coordination with
COMELEC and the PNP, significantly upheld its credibility in ensuring a peaceful
and orderly conduct of election in Leyte and
Biliran with no major untoward incidents recorded.
On 01 September 2007 , after two
(2) years of incumbency, LTC LOPE C DAGOY INF (GSC) PA was replaced by LTC
HENRY M BUMILTAC INF (GSC) PA as Commanding Officer this unit up to this date.
The
present commanding officer keeps the Commando troopers always on the guard and
steadfast in carrying its traditional mission with a high spirit of morale and
enthusiasm.
Unit Top Awards
CG, 3rd Infantry Division, PA
Streamer for Calendar Year 1978
Battalion of the Year in the year 1989
within 8th Infantry Division
Number one (1) Battalion in COIN
operations within VISCOM area for the 1st Qtr of CY 1990
Best Maneuver Battalion of 8ID, PA CY
1990
Best Maneuver Battalion of the 8ID, PA
CY 1992
CG 8ID Streamer Awardee CY 1992
1st Battalion to clear two
(2) Guerilla Fronts ahead of the given time frame set forth by higher
headquarters CY 1992
3rd placer as the Best
Battalion of the Year 1992 PA-
Best Maneuver Battalion of the 8ID, PA
for Calendar Year 1993.
Individual
Top Award
TSg Mamerto Dionio (Inf) PA –
Distinguished Conduct Star
For
depending Nenita PB against more or less 150 DTs on 15 July 1987
