OUR HISTORY
The 803rd Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army was organized and activated on 11 July 1988 as a Provisional Brigade with headquarters co-located with the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar.
During the incumbency of COL WILFREDO A DUBLIN INF (GSC) PA, the unit gained laudable accomplishments as a result of the aggressive implementation of AFP Campaign Plan “Lupig Lipol” which decimated the insurgency problem in Leyte Island. On 12 September 1988, the Provisional Brigade with its two (2) OPCON battalions, the 20IB and 34IB were moved from Catbalogan, Samar to Southern Leyte and initially established its headquarters at San Isidro, Sogod, Southern, Leyte. The 43IB which was based at Barangay Malinao, Mahaplag, Leyte was also placed OPCON to the brigade in order to establish a strong presence in Leyte. Likewise, the Southern Leyte Constabulary Command was also placed under operational control of the brigade. Moreover, the brigade supervised and controlled ten (10) CAFGU Companies, which were activated in the Island of Samar. On 18 March 1990, the brigade assumed its new Area of Responsibility (AOR) to confront the alarming growth of CPP/NPA in the southern part of Samar Island. The brigade temporarily established its headquarters at Brgy Parasanon, Pinabacdao, Samar, co-located with 52IB and subsequently relocated to a new headquarters at Brgy Caticugan, Sta Rita, Samar, on 29 May 1990, were it settled for almost six (6) years. Seasoned with tactical expertise and combat experience in handling insurgency problems, the provisional status of the unit was upgraded into a regular tactical infantry brigade effective 16 October 1990. This very memorable date marked the annual founding anniversary celebration of the brigade adapting a slogan “CAMURAYAO” a waray-waray word which denotes peace and tranquility. On 15 March 1996, then 803rd Brigade Commander, COL CALIXTO F BANAÑA died in a helicopter crash together with BGEN DANILO P OLAY, the 8th Infantry Division Commander, and six (6) others while on their way from Calbayog to Headquarters 8ID in Catbalogan, Samar. The party came from Barruz, Matuguinao, Samar where they attended an ALPS graduation exercise, opening of a cooperative and medical/dental civic action. On 20 May 1998, the 803rd (CAMURAYAO) Infantry Brigade moved from Caticugan, Sta. Rita, Samar to the Headquarters of the deactivated 801st Infantry Brigade at Camp Sumoroy, Northern Samar. The 19th Infantry (COMMANDO) Battalion and the newly re-activated 63rd Infantry (INNOVATOR) Battalion were placed OPCON to the brigade covering the whole province of Northern Samar and Calbayog City as its AOR. Significantly, the 19th Infantry Battalion was a candidate for Best Maneuver Battalion within AFP 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. September 20, 2001 marked the dreaded "MAPANAS ATTACK" when more or less two hundred (200) fully armed NPAs simultaneously attacked the PNP Station of Poblacion Mapanas and the Army Detachment at Brgy Burgos, Mapanas then manned by two (2) ferocious fighting cadres and nine (9) CAFGU's. The attacked turned these fighting men into heroes as they defied all odds in defending the detachment in four (4) hours firefight until the attackers withdrew in futile attempt. The brigade, then, was called “SIMPLY THE BEST” for having topped the “BEST BEST” evaluation for three (3) consecutive years, from 2001, 2002 and 2003. One of the brigade’s OPCON battalion, 63IB, was also adjudged as the Best Battalion of the Year (2003) for its outstanding performance of assigned mission in its area of responsibility in pursuance of the Internal Security Operations of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. From 2002 to 2004, 63IB became a “Hall of Fame” awardee for being second place in the National Literacy Awards for three consecutive years. Finally, in 2005, the 63IB won the National Search for Outstanding Literacy Program by the National Literacy Council for the unit’s ARMY LITERACY PATROL SYSTEM (ALPS) cum Livelihood Program, besting 273 other participants. The brigade’s capability was strengthened on 01 May 2004 with 20IB placed OPCON to the brigade in addition to the two (2) battalions already controlled by the unit. The brigade was then able to concentrate its effort in decimating the communist terrorists and dismantling of the priority guerilla fronts in the provinces of Northern Samar, Masbate and a portion of Samar province, particularly Calbayog City. From 2004 to 2006, the brigade did not experience any ambush, nor were there any firearms recovered or detachments overran by the NPAs. The year 2006 once again marked a year of excellence for the brigade, being 8ID’s Best Brigade. The four (4) guerilla fronts in the province were reduced into two (2) as a result of sustained and intensified combat operations. The unit was also active in community endeavors such as community projects; ALPS program Ugnayan sa Paaralan and other endeavors that supported the needs of the community. With the realignment of the Area of Responsibility of 8ID’s infantry Brigades, the 803rd Infantry Brigade assumed operational responsibility of the island towns of Daram and Sumaraga, Western Samar. In addition, the operational control on 34IB was terminated effective 15 February 2007. Said unit was replaced by 46IB in the area of operation and subsequently placed OPCON to the brigade effective 15 February 2007. As the number of rebels in Mindanao grew, the 46IB was deployed to Central Mindanao to augment troop presence, leaving behind 63IB and 20IB OPCON to the brigade. The 83DRC was then placed OPCON to this brigade as replacement to 46IB effective 07 July 2008. Per directive by HHQS to conduct White Area Operations, the brigade created Task Group “Peacemaker“ for SOT-White Area Operations effective 07 July 2009 with COL ROLANDO C MALINAO INF (GSC) PA, the Deputy Brigade Commander as Task Group Commander. With the incessant effort of 8ID to clear Samar particularly the 803rd Infantry Brigade AOR, this brigade was retained as the main effort on that same year (2009). 87IB, upon its activation on 15 February 2010 was placed OPCON to the brigade and secured parts of Samar province in the first automated National and Local elections on 11 May 2010. The battalion then swapped area of operations with 34IB on 20 July 2011 and 34IB assumed responsibility for the Pacific Towns of Northern Samar. On 18 September 2010, the unit overran an Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) camp located in the tri-boundary of Matuguinao, Jipapad and San Jose de Buan where various war materiels, subversive documents, generators, medical and dental equipments, among others were recovered. On the other hand, through the persistent stakeholders’ engagements of the unit, three (3) Provincial Ordinances and one (1) Executive Order that have direct impact on ISO were enacted. These special laws provide a Comprehensive Local Social Integration Program (LSIP), not only for the regular CPP-NPA members but also for the unit militia and members of Batakan nga Organisasyon Pampartido (BOP) operating in the province of Northern Samar. On 2 March 2012, COL ROLANDO C MALINAO INF (GSC) PA was designated as the Brigade Commander in a formal turn-over ceremony. The 16th and current Brigade Commander, he was recently promoted to Brigadier General. Since his Assumption of Command, the brigade has initiated 50 encounters, discovered 98 encampments, overran 12 enemy encampments, neutralized 149 enemies through 42 NPA, 20 militia and 71 BOP members who surrendered, 12 NPA and one (1) militia apprehended and 3 NPA who died in encounters. The unit was also able to recover 12 HPFAs and 31 LPFA resulting in the brigade being once again cited as 8ID’s Most Combat Efficient Brigade for 2013, the third time in a row. Currently, the Brigade has the province of Northern Samar, Oquendo District and Tinambacan District of Calbayo City as its Area of Responsibility. Its OPCON Battalions are the 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion, the 63rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion, and the 34th Infantry (Reliable) Battalion. Its facilities include the Peacemaker Day Care Center and the Peacemaker Chapel, which caters not only to the Peacemakers but the civilian populace, as well. LINEAGE OF COMMANDERS COL WILFREDO A DUBLIN INF (GSC) PA – 02 SEP ‘88 - 09 SEP ’90 BGEN ROMEO B TARRAYO AFP- – 09 SEP 90 – 12 NOV 93 COL FELOMINO R GARCIA JR INF (GSC) PA –12 NOV ‘93 - 16 JAN ’95 COL CALIXTO F BANANA INF (GSC) PA – 16 JAN ‘95 - 15 MAR ’96 BGEN DIONISIO R SANTIAGO AFP – 15 MAR ‘96 - 15 FEB ’99 BGEN ILUMINADO B ARAGON AFP – 15 FEB ‘99 - 15 NOV ’00 COL RAFAEL S ROMERO INF (GSC) PA – 15 NOV ‘00 - 08 MAR ’02 BGEN CESAR DP TIONGSON AFP – 08 MAR ’02 - 16 JAN ’04 BGEN BERNARD Z DE LUNA AFP – 16 JAN ‘04 - 02 JAN ’06 BGEN ROLAND A RODRIGUEZ AFP – 02 JAN ‘06 - 11 JAN ‘07 BGEN REYNALDO D SEALANA AFP – 11 JAN ’07 - 20 OCT ’07 COL GERARDO T LAYUG CAV (GSC) PA (OIC) – 21 OCT ’07 - 24 OCT ’07 COL EDUARDO D DEL ROSARIO FA (GSC) PA – 25 OCT ’07 - 05 FEB ’09 COL ARNOLFO A ATENDIDO CAV (GSC) PA – 06 FEB ’09 - 22 MAR ’10 COL OSCAR P LOPEZ INF (GSC) PA – 23 MAR ’10 - 01 MAR ’12 COL ROLANDO C MALINAO INF (GSC) PA – 02 MAR ’12 - TO DATE |