14th Infantry Battalion
"Avenger"
The 14th Infantry Battalion ("Avenger") traces its lineage back to the 14th Infantry Battalion Combat Team first activated on 1 August 1950, and which subsequently served in the campaigns against the Huks and the Philippine contingent sent to Korea, Philippines Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK), as part of UN forces. Soon after its return from that conflict and with the end of the Huk Rebellion, the unit was inactivated.
On June 1973, with the rise of the Moro National Liberation Front rebellion, the unit was reactivated as a unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned to Philippine Army pursuant to General Orders Number 490, General Headquarters, AFP dated 7 June 1973. The unit was formed as a provisional unit in accordance with AFP TOE 7-15B, effective 16 May 1973. It was officially activated on 28 May 1973 when the first batch of 19 officers and 49 enlisted personnel were assigned to it. The provisional status was discontinued by section 1, General Orders Number 350, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines dated 25 June 1973. The unit was then designated as the 14th Infantry Battalion and became organic to 1st Infantry Division. It was subsequently sent to Mindanao to participate in the campaign against the MNLF.
The Avengers boarded an LST and departed on their first mission to the southern Philippines at Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte. The troops arrived in Siocon on 2 November 1973 and started sweeping the area from Siocon, Siraway to Sibuto. The initial skirmish between the Battalion and the MNLF led to the capture of Fort Santa Maria, a known rebel training camp.
When the situation in Siocon Island was normalized and the responsibility was turned-over to the Philippine Constabulary and police forces in the area, the Avengers were pulled-out on 6 February 1974. The pull-out was prompted to move on the augment Philippine Army units further south in Jolo. The Avengers were briefed on the situation on their and prepared themselves to conduct a counter attack against the rebels. On 7 February 1974, the Avengers landed in Jolo. On 8 February, 1974, they had cleared the area of rebels.
Operations against Philippine rebels did not end in Jolo. After the normalization of the situation in the town, the Avengers moved out on 26th April 1974 to Talipao, Sulu. On 28, May 1974, the unit occupied Luuk, Sulu. Luuk, Kuta Kambing and Mount Tayungan were subsequently brought back under government control. Several combat maneuvers and psychological operations were conducted until on 15 October, 1974, the unit was pulled-out again for another mission.
On 16 October, 1974, the Avengers aboard an LST were transported from Jolo Sulu to Basilan. In Basilan, the unit landed in Mangal, Sumisip. In this province, the unit occupied a part of the mainland and 3 islands, side by side with the 24th Infantry Battalion. The unit conducted massive combat operations, as well as Civil-Military Operations. Among the significant accomplishments of the unit in Basilan were the retaking of coastal and mainland towns under MNLF control. As a result the rebels reportedly took to the seas to supply and otherwise move about. In response the battalion acquired 3 tempers and its line units had 4-5 pump boats, allowing seaborne patrolling. Through 1977 the 14th Infantry Battalion and the 24th Infantry Battalion conducted patrols, including those at sea. On 22 April 1977, the Avengers relocated to Lamitan, Basilan.
Tuburan, Basilan was a town where MNLF has occupied for about a year. The battalion assigned D Company the mission of retake the town. In less than a week time, D Company was able to return Tuburan to government control and had established their Company Command Post. In 3 months time the economic situation in the area had been normalized.
Due to persistent reliable information that MNLF rebels had sought refuge on an island west of Tuburan, the Battalion, side by side with its sister battalion, the 34th Infantry Battalion, and the Philippine Navy, conducted a combined air, sea and ground attack. The Air Force had first strafed the island, then the Navy bombarded the shore with 20mm cannon fire and the Army, 14th Infantry Battalion and 34th Infantry Battalion landed on the shores of the island and eventually cleared the area. After 3 days the operations was successfully concluded with the area cleared and weapons recovered.
Also as part of the Battalion's operations on Basilan it conducted various civil actions and infrastructure projects. On 15 November 1978, as the situation gradually normalized, the Avengers were pulled out to augment efforts of other Armed Forces units and were moved to Mount Tumatangis. The Avengers settled themselves in Buansa, while preparing for the attack on an MNLF camp in the area. After about a month of sweeping Mountt Tumatangis, the unit was able to clear the area. After clearing the area, the unit consolidated again at Buansa and was given a brief rest. During follow on patrols an arm cache was recovered at Andihi resulting in the capture of weapons and contraband.
On 4 March 1979, the Avengers marched off to their new area of responsibility in Talipao, Sulu. The threat of land mines made the journey one by foot, with the Battalion's equipment loaded in vehicles trailing behind. On the troops were harassed by MNLF rebels whose sanctuary was on the hills of Talipao. The Battalion responded and eventually cleared the road and the area and reached its initial destination, Buhangin Puti. The land mine threat led to the reduction in vehicle operations in the area in favor of foot patrols.
The Avengers were able to clear Kabungkul, a coastal barangay of Talipao, and eventually established their Headquarters in the town. While deployed to Kabungkul the unit participated in large sweeps of the surrounding areas. During one of its combat operations the unit was tasked to clear Bonbon, Panamao, Sulu, along with the 34th Infantry Battalion. On 3 June 1979, Major Corlonstio and his convoy were ambushed by MNLF after returning from a conference at the 1st Division headquarters, killing the major and other members of his staff. Despite a coordinated strike against other elements of the Battalion to prevent a reaction to the ambush, an operation was immediately conducted and the rebels neutralized.
The unit continued conducting combat and civil-military operations. This included the clearing of the Pata Island, which was 15 nautical miles south of Sulu archipelago. To remove it as a potential safe haven for rebels and smugglers, a battalion (-) combat operation was launched to clear the islands. The Avengers on board its organic tempers and pump boats landed in Pata Island and immediately swept the area. In a week's time the island was cleared. resulting in the neutralization of a rebel leader and the recovery of weapons.
Following the operation on Pata the unit needed to reequip, refresh and retrain its personnel. However, the Avengers was alerted to return at Tawi-tawi to reinforce the 6th Marines Battalion Landing Team. The unit landed in Batobato, Tawi-tawi on 1 August 1980. They cleared Tarawakan and Balimbing roads. The Avengers spent 20 days in Tawi-tawi before proceeding to Luzon for their retraining.
On 1 September 1980 the Avengers arrived at Fort Magsaysay and were billeted at the 3rd Howitzer Battalion barracks in the base's Sector 3. New doctrines, tactics and strategies were emphasized to update the unit's fighting capabilities. The retraining was designed to focus even more heavily on the doctrine of counter-insurgency, pending the units deployment to the Visayas. One company was trained in Scout Ranger Operations while others were trained on administrative function. Before the conclusion of its retraining, the unit passed the Individual Circuit Training Course conducted by Army Special Warfare Brigade (Airborne). On 31 January 1981, the unit graduated from its retraining and was placed under the 5th Infantry Division pending its deployment in Eastern Visayas, Samar Island.
On 10 February, 1981, the Avengers moved out from Fort Magsaysay and proceeded to Sangley Point, Cavite to board the LST for transport to their new area of responsibility. San Roque, Northern Samar was under the responsibility of the 60th Philippine Constabulary Battalion. During that time, the 60th PC Battalion suffered heavy casualties in the hinterlands of San Roque and Pambujan. As a result the deployment of the Army was decided upon to reinforce the government presence.
On 1 February, 1981, the Avengers relieved the 60th PC Battalion and took over responsibility for 9 coastal towns and 1 town in the interior: Mondragon, Silvino Lobos, San Roque, Pambujan, Catubig, Las Navas, Gamay, Palapag, Mapanas and Lapinig. The unit stayed in province for 8 months. On 22 October 1981 the unit was redeployed from Northern Samar to Brgy Patag, Wright Samar. Since Patag was considered as a non-strategic location as far as the control of line units was concerned, the Avengers transferred to Bagacay, Hinabangan, Samar.
Bagacay was home to the Philippine Pyrite Corporation (popularly known as the Bagacay Mines). Communist rebels had been reported to be collecting taxes from the mine and its workers. As a result one of the first moves the 14th Infantry Battalion made was to establish a Headquarters inside the mining compound and immediately cleared its periphery. Reported rebel camps and sanctuaries were raided and cleared. The area of responsibility for the unit spread from Western Samar to Eastern Samar and the Avengers were placed under the operational control of the Philippine Constabulary Brigade Task Group at Borongan, Eastern Samar.
The 14th Infantry Battalion teamed up with the Long Range Patrol element of the Philippine Constabulary task force. Massive combat patrols resulted in the capture of rebel camps, weapons, documents and other equipment. When the situation in the area became to normalized, the unit was again redeployed from the area to continue its campaign in the West.
On 24 October 1983, the unit pulled out and proceeded to its new area of responsibility, Buenavista, San Jorge, Samar. The unit arrived on 25, April 1983 and took responsibility over the highway towns, as well as towns in the interior of the province, Matuguinao. To counter increased rebel activity, Higher Headquarters directed the unit to send one company to address the needs for additional troops in the area. A Company occupied Mahaplag and its nearby towns. Their stay in the area was spent multi-tasking between counter-insurgency security during the election, rescue and rehabilitation and other tasks that had been directed to them. Their stay in the area was cut short by the assassination of Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino on 23 August 1983. The incident has paved the way to the ouster of President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
The subsequent unrest in the National Capital Region (around Manila) led to the 14th Infantry Battalion being redeployed there. On 22 October 1983 the Avengers moved out aboard an LST bound to South Harbor of Manila. After an arrival ceremony, the unit was billeted at Headquarters Training Command, Philippine Army and was placed under the operational control of the contingency (MAAGAP) Brigade, Philippine Army. The MAAGAP Brigade was responsible for addressing the civil disturbances in Metro Manila.
To cope with the situation, the unit was trained in Civil Disturbance Course and one Company was designated as a CDC unit. During the demonstrations and rallies of Aquino supporters, the CDC unit of the Avengers was dispatched to ensure peaceful and orderly group assembles. Other members of the unit were casually dispatched as buffer crowds during these activities. Simultaneously and in order to refresh the unit's tactical capability, the unit again underwent retraining. CDC operations were continued until 29 May 1984 when the unit was pulled out from the National Capital Region and deployed in Central Luzon-Bical, Munoz, and Nueva Ecija.
The Avengers arrived in Bical, Munoz, Nueva Ecija relieving 33rd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade (Separate). After a briefing by the officers of the outgoing unit, the Avengers positioned themselves. The Avengers has an extended area of operations from Nueva Ecija to the boundary of Viscaya up to the mountains of Pangasinan. During one a combat patrol, one platoon was ambushed by heavily armed communist rebels at Brgy Namunlandayan, Lupao, Nueva Ecija. The resulting firefight resulting in the deaths of a number of innocent civilian bystanders. An investigation was launched and found that the rebels had taken shelter and fired from the house where the civilians were hiding, resulting in their deaths as the elements of the 14th Infantry Battalion responded to the ambush.
The unit pursued its counter-insurgency operation in the mountains of Nueva Ecija and further cleared the area, including the destruction of a marijuana plantation in the aras around Capintalan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.
With the end of the dictatorship of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, the unit secured the Broadcast City, Channel 7 and the Celebrity Sports Plaza. During the People's Revolution, the unit showed exemplary loyalty and dedication to duty as a model member of the Armed forces of the Philippines.
While deployed to Nueva Viscaya the unit conducted search sand rescue operations for a Singaporean pilot whose plane had crashed in the areas around Castaneda. The unit also participated in the relief and rehabilitation operations during the strongest typhoon that hit Nueva Ecija in 1985. On 27 February 1987, a year after the famous People's Revolution, the unit pulled-out form Munoz, Nueva Ecija and proceeded to Fort Magsaysay.
On 12 March 1987, the Avengers were once again at its birthplace, Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City. They were billeted with the Army Special Warfare Brigade (Airborne) in the base's Sector 4. The Battalion's area of responsibility was the eastern part of Nueva Ecija. The unit's stay was short and they were again ordered to occupy Imelda Valley, Palayan City, departing Fort Magsaysay on 26 April, 1987.
The unit settled at Imelda, Palayan City on 1 July, 1987. On 28 August, 1987, a bloody coup d'etat was stage against President Cory C Aquino by the Reform of the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), YOU and SMF. A company of the 14th Infantry Battalion under the leadership of Lt Colonel Melchoir I Acosta, Jr participated in the attempted coup and moved on the General Headquarters, AFP. The Avengers were immediately relieved and those who participated were detained on a naval ship. Lt Colonel Acosta was relieved from command.
On 28 September, 1987 the Avengers left Luzon area and proceeded to Samar Island on board a C-130 of the Philippine Air Force. On 29 September 1987 the unit was transported to its new location at Lokilokon, Wright, Samar. The Avengers had to construct their own Headquarters at Lokilokon, because the unit they relieved, the 56th Infantry Battalion, had a far reduced strength. Likewise, the defense of the unit's encampment was strengthened and new Signal Intelligence facilities were constructed.
On 17 October, 1987, troops in a convoy aboard M35 trucks were on their way at Battalion Headquarters from Calapi, Motiong, Samar after a combat operation. In the vicinity of Brgy Conception, Motiong, Samar the troops were ambushed by approximately 100 heavily armed rebels. Though outnumbers the troops engaged in an hour long firefight in which they eventually counterattacked, neutralizing 22 rebels and forcing the remaining elements to withdraw.
On 9 March 1988 the unit transferred its Headquarters from Lokilokon to Brgy Cabong, Borongan, Eastern Samar to have a better control of its units. By that time, Northeast District (NED) consisted of 7 municipalities, was under the influence of communist rebels. Viewed as a rebel sanctuary, through massive combat operations and Special Operations Team (SOT) operations, gradually, the rebel infrastructure in the region was dismantled.
In February 1990, a patrol base located at Arteche, Eastern Samar was attacked by approximately 300 communist rebels. The patrol base at the time was manned by a platoon size troop, complemented with CAAs. Outnumbered, the troops were able to stand their grounds, but after running out of ammunition and having their line of communication cut, the base was overrun. Reinforcements were attempted by helicopter, but failed to arrive in time. A pursuit operation was conducted to track down the perpetrators, but the rebels evaded the reaction force.
By March 1990 the Avengers had relocated at Brgy Polangi, Taft, Eastern Samar to concentrate on the Northeast District. The unit continued its intensified Triad operations. With the launching of Operation Lambat-Bitag, the government envisioned an end the insurgency problem through operations focusing on 4 phases: Clear, Hold, Consolidate, and Develop. As part of this operational plan the Avengers transferred its Battalion Headquarters from Polangi, Taft, to Camp Picardo, Dolores, Eastern Samar. Rebels began to surface and surrendered to the unit. The 14th Infantry Battalion conducted intelligence and civil-military operations, which revealed that the rebels were already losing local support. Continued civil-military operations and psychological warfare paved the way for the surrender of Rodrigo "Ka Digo" Sugalan, who was then the Secretary of the Northeast District, together with his men.
In 1992, the unit participated in 3 Brigade-directed operations, 10 Battalion-initiated and 5 Company initiated operations to include 735 small unit actions. This has resulted to 4 enemy neutralized, 2 captured, and 25 surrendered with weapons recovered.
In late 1993 the 14th Infantry Battalion introduced the use of computers to enhance the prompt submission and the accuracy of reports. The unit was also able to clear the whole Northeast District. From late 1993 and into 1994 the unit was able to conduct 7 Battalion initiated operations, 4 company operations, and 1,777 small unit actions. The unit also conducted 7 SOTs at 33 influenced barangays. These operations have neutralized 36 rebels including a known leader, and resulted in the recovery of weapons. The unit was able to move the NED into the Consolidate and Develop phases of Lambat-Bitag operations.
As part of the 8th Infantry Division's "Unity for Peace, Unity for Progress" or "Up, Up, Samar" project massive civic-actions were conducted benefiting almost 85 percent of the populace in its area of operation in conjunction with local communities and institutions, NGOs, and other organizations. The unit eventually began to solicit opinions and feedback from the local government with the vision of turning over the counter-insurgency issue to the Philippine National Police. Resource constraints prevented this from happening, but civil-military operations continued.
Into 1995 the unit had escalated its efforts and participated in 1 Division initiated operations, 6 Brigade directed operations, 23 Battalion initiated operations, 13 company initiated operations and 3,783 small unit actions. The unit also participated in additional civil-military operations and community programs including the Army's Concern for Community Organizing and Development (ACCORD).
Between 1995 and 1997 with the Philippine Army's push to add a conventional capability to its units, the Avengers underwent another retraining the unit's Headquarters at Camp Picardo, Dolores, Eastern Samar. Unlike its first retraining, which was purely on counter-insurgency tactics, the second retraining concerned tactical strategy in waging conventional warfare.
On October 1997, the unit participated in the Visayas Command Rapid Deployment Force Exercise, Pelican. The unit was tasked as the main Player Unit in the exercise. The main task of the Avengers was to conduct amphibious assault operation in the shorelines of Dulag, Leyte. This was the first time that an Army Battalion participated in amphibious operation exercise.
On 20 April 2001 Major Aurelio B Baladad became the Commanding Officer of the 14th Infantry Battalion. Major Baladad was the author responsible for formulating the Philippine Army CARES Program. While commanding this unit he made a study on the modification of Army CARES Program. This was subsequently implemented in the rebel affected barangays the units area of responsibility through Modified Special Operation Team (MSOT) operations. Two operations conducted in the municipality of Maslog and Dolores, Eastern Samar. The Army revised CARES Program was submitted to Higher Headquarters for study.
In January 2002, A Company successfully overran an enemy encampment in the vicinity of Brgy San Andres, Borongan, eastern Samar, which resulted in the recovery of weapons and the capture of rebel recruits. This prompted a response from the NPA rebels and in June 2002 the rebels lured the 14th Infantry Battalion into action with the murder of an alleged informant. A section of reinforced CAFGU's sent to investigate were ambushed by approximately 200 NPA guerillas. The CAFGU's stood their ground, but suffered 8 killed and one wounded. A Battalion initiated pursuit operation, which lasted for several months, was not able to engage the enemy decisively. An experimental operation plan was introduced with modified special operations team (MSOT) operations to help the local government bring the basic services to the Barangays, while at the same time neutralizing the political organization established by the rebels. Positive results from these operations resulting the creation of the re-engineered special operation team (RSOT). This strategy was later presented to higher headquarters and was further adopted by the Army as a whole. The unit also established the first Area Coordinating Council as part of these operations
During this period the unit participated in one Division operation, 5 brigade operations and initiated 15 battalion operations, 18 company operations and 2,297 small unit actions, which resulted in the recovery of weapons, neutralization of 5 rebel personalities and the destruction of 8 enemy camps. The unit was also mobilized during the national and local elections.
On 10 June 2002, the 14th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division was redeployed from 8th Infantry Division AOR in Eastern Samar to Sulu and placed under the operational control of the 104th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. This was due to the intensified activity by the Abu Sayaff Group in the province of Sulu. To neutralize these terrorist activities, the AFP launched Operation Endgame II, which aimed at the complete neutralization of the Abu Sayaff Group in Sulu. As part of this Campaign Plan, the 104th Infantry Brigade launched tactical offensives against Abu Sayaff as part its Operation, Daylight II, Hurricane, and, later Tatlong Buwan. The unit's operational activities in Sulu focused entirely on the neutralization of Abu Sayaff and the Misuari Breakaway Group. As part of these operations, the 14th Infantry Battalion was primarily utilized as a maneuver/strike force unit with no specific Area of Operation. With this concept, the unit was given the mission to conduct combat operation in the province of Sulu to neutralize Abu Sayaff and the Misuari Breakaway Group, and to rescue remaining hostages in order to establish a environmental conducive for development.
By 2003 the 14th Infantry Battalion had moved on from an inauspicious start to operations in Sulu that saw 2 of its members lost to a friendly fire incident. B Company started the continuous troop's engagement and firearms recovery operations. C Company followed, conducting a successful raid and reinforcing friendly units recovering weapons and neutralizing rebels. A Company did its share when it encountered approximately 150 Abu Sayaff rebels, engaging in a fire-fight lasting just over 2.5 hours, inflicting 3 casualties and recovering weapons. The overall results of the operations conducted in Sulu included 8 engagements with rebel forces resulting 6 rebels neutralized and the recovery of various weapons and equipment in the process of eliminating 10 rebel camps and safe houses.
On 28 June 2003, the unit was redeployed from from Jolo, Sulu to Samar as part of increased operations following an attack on elements of the 52nd Infantry Battalion. A C-130 cargo aircraft delivered the first batch of troops to Tacloban Airport while the other half of the 14th Infantry Battalion boarded an LST and landed at the port of Tacloban City 3 days later. The unit later was given an area of responsibility consisting of the northern Municipalities of Eastern Samar, relieving in place the troops of A Company, 52nd Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division. A combat operation was immediately launched resulting in an engagement with rebels that resulted in one rebel neutralized.
During the 2nd week of September 2003, the unit began establishing its new headquarters. The line companies followed suit and began to establish their company command post. By November of 2003 the unit had finished constructing and occupying their Headquarters and was tactically deployed at Brgy Dao, Oras, Eastern Samar, covering the northern portion of the province, starting with Taft. However, before the year ended, the unit had assumed responsibility over the central portion of Eastern Samar, thereby extending the unit's area of responsibility from Borongan to Jipapad all of eastern Samar.
On 4 June 2004, SOT operators of B Company were ambushed by approximately 25 rebels at Brgy San Pablo, Borongan, Eastern Samar, resulting in the loss of 2 members of the unit. On 12 June 2004, in response to the ambush of B Company, A Company conduct an operation. As a result the unit encountered heavily armed rebels at San Roque - Tugas Complex, Maslog, Eastern Samar, resulting in one rebel neutralized and weapons and documents recovered. A fatality during the operation led to a Battalion initiated operation on 2 July 2004. Operating troops of the HHSC encountered approximately 20 rebels at Brgy Cagloan, Dolores, Eastern Samar, again resulting in one rebel neutralized and weapons recovered. The remaining rebels fled and were intercepted by elements of B Company, which led to a firefight in which the rebels were dispersed. As a result of the operations various known rebel personalities surrendered to government forces, and additional raids recovered more weapons.
The overall result of operations conducted during 2004 included various combat operations and other small unit actions employing its 3 rifle companies complemented by recon platoon of HHSC. These operations resulted in 8 engagements with rebel forces in which 3 were neutralized and various weapons, equipment, and documents were recovered. 8 abandoned rebel camps were also discovered.
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