Thursday, November 1, 2007

INTERPRETATION OF THE UNIT LOGO

The Unit motto “PEACEMAKER” connotes the continued commitment of the unit in the maintenance and preservation of peace within its area of responsibility. The 803rd Infantry “PEACEMAKER” Brigade Logo/Seal denotes the following:

SHELD -Represent the role of the Brigade in protecting the people against any lawless elements.

OCTAGON -Represent the region’s numerical value.

WHITE STAR -Represent the Brigade’s purity of dedication in service to God, Country and the People.

RED -Denotes the willingness of the Brigade to fight the enemy and other threat forces that threaten national security.

GREEN -Denotes the unit’s commitment in environmental protection.

GOLDEN YELLOW -Represents the golden heart of personnel in discharging their duties and responsibilities towards the constitution and people it had sworn to protect.

DOVE AND LAUREL-Symbolizes Peace.

CROSS RIFLE -Denotes the unit’s designation as an Infantry.

803rd -The numerical designation of the Brigade as a unit of the Philippine Army.

INFANTRY BRIGADE-State the type and size of the unit

PEACEMAKER -Connotes the continued commitment of the unit in the maintenance and preservation of peace.

HISTORY OF 803RD BDE

The 803rd Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army was organized and activated on 11 July 1988 as a Provisional Brigade, pursuant to General Orders Number 257 HPA dated 14 July 1988, under the command of COL WILFREDO DUBLIN with headquarters co-located with the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar.

On 12 September 1988, the provisional brigade with its two (2) OPCON battalions, the 20th Infantry Battalion and 34th Infantry Battalion were move from Catbalogan, Samar to Southern Leyte and initially establish its headquarters at San Isidro, Sogod, Southern, Leyte. The 43rd Infantry Battalion base 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 Cmmand 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.

Under the stewardship of the first brigade commander, COL DUBLIN laudable accomplishment in clearing Southern Leyte was a result of the units aggressive implementation of AFP CAMPAIGN PLAN “LUPIG-LIPOL” thereby decimating and dismantling the insurgency movement in the area of its operational responsibility.

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 the 52nd Infantry Battalion 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.

On 16 October 1990, the date being celebrated as its Founding Anniversary, the 803rd Infantry (PROVISIONAL) Brigade was upgraded to a regular tactical Infantry Brigade Pursuant to General Orders Number 563, Headquarters Philippine Army dated 16 October 1990 with COL ROMEO B TARRAYO as its Brigade Commander.

The Brigade adopted “ CAMURAYAO” which means peace and tranquility in the WARAY dialect as its SLOGAN.

On 12 November 1993, COL FELOMINO R GARIA JR took over the helm of the unit after the relief of BGEN ROMEO B TARRAYO AFP.

On 16 January 1995, COL CALIXTO F BANANA assumed Command of the Brigade until his untimely death in the helicopter mishap along with then Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division. The late BGEN DANILO P OLAY AFP, who were then enroute from an official engagement from Matuguinao, Samar on 15 March 1996 with untimely demise of COL BANANA, then COL DIONISIO R SANTIAGO, was designated as Brigade Commander on 18 March 1996.
On 20 May 1998, the 803rd (CAMURAYAO) Brigade moved from Caticugan, Sta. Rita, Samar to the Headquarters of the deactivated 801st Brigade at Camp Sumoroy, Northern Samar. It was during his stint in Northern, Samar that the “PEACEMAKER” slogan came into being replacing “CAMURAYAO” with the new AOR of the Brigade, 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.

On 15 February 1999, COL ILUMINADO B ARAGON (GSC) PA took over the Command of the Brigade from BGEN DIONISIO R SANTIAGO AFP. COL ARAGON would later earn his star rank, as Brigadier General.

On 15 November 2000, BGEN ARAGON relinquished Command of the Brigade to COL RAFAEL S ROMERO (GSC) PA. It was during his stint that one of its fight ingest OPCON Battalion, the 19th Infantry (COMMANDO) Battalion was moved to Western Mindanao on 21 November 2001 to augment the troops committed to quell the uprising of NUR MISUARI followers where it carried out remarkable performance in the tradition of storm troopers.

On 08 March 2002, taking over the reign of the Brigade from COL RAFAEL S ROMERO (GSC) PA was COL CESAR DP TIONGSON MNSA (JCSC) PA who was later promoted to Brigadier General. The Brigade then was called “SIMPLY THE BEST” for having topped the “BEST BEST” evaluation for that year.

To add more muscle to the unit, the 3rd Scout Ranger Company was placer under the operational control of the Brigade and was further placed OPCON to 34th Infantry Battalion to conduct strike operations in the hinterlands of Samar. However, said Scout Ranger Company was released OPCON effective 26 January 2004 and was replaced by the 17th Scout Ranger Company pursuant to paragraph 2 of the same order.

Last 28 January 2004, COL BERNARD Z LUNA MNSA (JCSC) PA took over the Command from BGEN CESAR DP TIONGSON, AFP in a simple Turn-Over Ceremony held at KALIPAYAN HALL. Initially the Brigade only had the 34IB, 63IB and the 17th Scout Ranger Company as OPCON unit.

With the development of the 20th Infantry Battalion as an additional OPCON unit on 01 May 2004, under the stewardship of the incumbent Brigade Commander, COL DE LUNA, the Brigade’s capability was strengthened and is now concentrating its effort in decimating the communist terrorist and the dismantling of the priority guerilla fronts in the province of Northern Samar and Calbayog City.

17SR Coy was released OPCON effective 26 January 2004 pursuant to paragraph 1 General Order Number 14, H8ID, PA dated January 2004.

“BRAVO” Coy 52nd CADRE Battalion and 82nd Recon Coy placed OPCON to 803rd Infantry Brigade effective 26 July 2004 pursuant to paragraph 2 General Order Number 14, H8ID, PA dated 26 January 2004.

LINEAGE OF COMMANDERS

COL WILFREDO A DUPLIN INF (GSC) PA 02 Sep 88 – 09 Sep 90
BGEN ROMEO B TARRAYO AFP 09 Apr 90 – 12 Nov 93
COL FELOMINO R GARCIA INF (GSC) PA 12 Nov 93 – 16 Jan 95
COL CALIXTRO 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 to date