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2nd Infantry Battalion
2nd Battalion Combat Team
2nd Infantry Battalion (Separate)
"Second to None"
"Old Second"

The 2nd Infantry Battalion traces its lineage to the activation of the 2nd Battalion Combat Team in 1946. This unit evolved from a US Army Forces in the Philippines guerrilla unit that had been involved in operations against the Japanese occupation. The unit was briefly expanded into the 22nd Infantry Regiment on 10 July 1946. The unit was attached to the Military Police Command (MPC) deployed on combat operations against dissidents in Central and Northern Luzon areas. After a year the unit was redesiganted as the 2nd Infantry Battalion (Separate). On 1 February 1950, the was redesignated back to the 2nd Battalion Combat Team.

With the outbreak of conflict on the Korean Peninsula in the 1950s, the United Nations asked member-countries to contribute armed contingents to the United Nations efforts there. This led to the creation of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK). The last contingent to participate in the PEFTOK mission was the 2nd Battalion Combat Team. Its advance elements embarked from the Philippines on December 1953, while the main bulk of the unit left on 12 April 1954. The unit was deployed in the Ynaggu Valley, Korea. On 13 May 1955, the 2nd Battalion Combat Team returned to the Philippines, ending the PEFTOK mission.

The 2nd Battalion Combat Team was inactivated as part of a general draw down of the Philippine Army as the Huk insurgency receded. In 1957, its personnel were distributed to various other Philippine Army units. What remained of the 2nd Battalion Combat Team was a skeleton force that remained in 2nd Military Area to conduct and handle the training of the Citizen Army.

On 1 February 1970, the unit was reactivated as the 2nd Infantry Battalion. This activation was in response to civil disturbances against the Government of Ferdinand Marcos, as well as continuing insurgencies in the country. The unit was headquarted at Camp Capinpin, Tanay Rizal. On 1 July 1971, elements of B Company were deployed to Mindanao for combat operations against anti-government forces and criminal elements. On 29 February 1972, B Company redeployed to Luzon.

The declaration of Martial Law on 21 September 1972 put the 2nd Infantry Battalion forefront, along with other AFP units, in implementing the guidelines of proclamation 1081. Elements of the battalion continued to conduct counter insurgency operations as well. On 4 August 1972, C Company spearheaded an attack on rebels in Mindanao in the hills of Basilan. 0n 19 October 1972, the bulk of 2nd Infantry Battalion followed C Company to Basilan. On 6 November 1972, the unit redeployed to Busnus, Jolo, Sulu, as it participated in the pacification campaign there. On 1 March 1974, the 2nd Infantry Battalion was redeployed to Lanao Del Sur, to address the growing conflict there.

On 21 May 1974, the 2nd Infantry Battalion was redeployed to Upi, Maguindanao. There it was placed under the operational control of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, the operating arm of Central Mindanao Command (CEMCOM). On 8 June 1975, after almost 2 years in combat duty the unit was redeployed back to Camp Capinpin, Tanay Rizal.

Personnel from the inactivated Combat Group Alpha (Provisional) were reassigned to the 2nd Infantry Battalion in 1975 as part of a reorganization of infantry battalions across the Philippine Army. The new organization saw the activation of a fourth company, D Company. On 8 September 1975, the battalion started refresher training with its additional personnel.

On 21 April 1976, the unit was redeployed to Sitio Wawa, Barangay San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal. On 24 May 1976, floods severely damaged the areas where the unit had deployed, leading it to move to a camp at vicinity Mount Pacawagan, Barangay San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal by the middle of June 1976.

In the early 1980s, D Company was placed under the operation control of the Presidential Security Command (PSC). On recommendation of 2nd Infantry Battalion the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines direted the 2nd Infantry Battalion to take up a vacant portion of Seminary Road, Quezon City on 14 May 1982. This was to enable the unit to be immediately available during contingency situation in Metro Manila. This redeployment came after a study conducted by the 1st Infantry Brigade (Metro) looking at modifying the area of responsibility in Metro Manila and the surrounding areas, leading to the decision to place areas adjacent to Metro Manila under a single Battalion Commander.

After the February 1986 Revolution the Battalion was redeployed to Bicol on 4 March 1986. Transported by air and land, its last elements arrived on 7 March 1986 and established a tactical command post in Brgy Matacon, Polangui, Albay on 10 March 1986. Once established the Battalion was given an area responsibility in the 3rd District of Albay, consisting of the municipalities of Polangui, Libon and Oas and Nabua, Bato, and Balatan, all in Camarines del Sur, and also including a portion of Iriga City.

On 19 January 1990, the unit was transferred from Matacon, Polangui, Albay to Barangay Mabalod-balod, Tigaon, Camarines del Sur in order to confront a growing insurgency there. On 3 February 1990, the Battalion Headquarters was transferred to Brgy Hiwacloy, Goa, Camarines del Sur. On 15 April 1991, the unit redeployed from Brgy Hiwacloy, Goa, Camarines del Sur to Brgy Matacon, Polangui, Albay, returning to its previous headquarters area.

On 17 December 1992, the unit was deployed to Brgy Tula-Tula grande, Ligao, Albay to conduct internal security operations. On 14 February 1994, redeployed from Brgy Tula-Tula Grande to Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal purposely to undergo retraining. On 18 June 1994, after completing the retraining cycle, the 2nd Infantry Battalion was given a new area of responsibility consisting of 13 municipalities in the province of Sorsogon. The unit established its tactical command post at Barangay Bacolod, Juban, Sorsogon. The deployment of the 2nd Infantry Battalion followed the inactivation of the 49th Infantry Battalion, which had previously held responsibility for the area. The 2nd Infantry Battalion was again relocated on 16 December 1994 to Barangay Rangas, Juban, Sorsogon.

On 11 August 1999, the 2nd Infantry Battalion was given an expanded area of operations. As a result, one of its companies was deployed to Masbate to maintain peace and order and to help local authorities in combating and neutralizing the insurgents in the province.

On 25 August 2002, elements of the Recon Platoon of the 2nd Infantry Battalion apprehended a rebel leader while conducting strike operation at vicinity Brgy Guruyan, Juban, Sorsogon. Between 15 August to December 2002, the unit recorded a total of 7 encounters, one raid and the recovery weapons. Combat operations resulted to the captured of enemy combatants and the discovery of an abandoned camp in the vicinity Brgy San Antonio Millabas, Pilar, Sorsogon. An abandoned enemy cache was also discovered during the operations in the vicinity brgy SanJuan, Bacon, District Sorsogon.

The unit recorded a total of 18 encounters, 9 raids and 2 captures between 1 January 2003 and 31 June 2004. During the operations the Battalion neutralized 16 enemy combatants and recovered numerous weapons.

In October 2004, Globe detachment from the 10th CAA Company, under the operational control of A Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, based in Brgy Banuang Daan, Matnog, Sorsogon and the San Isidro Detachment of the 2nd CAA Company, also assigned to A Company, and based in Brgy San Isidro, Santa Magdalena, Sorsogon, engaged with enemy combatants. Similar attacks were experienced by B Company near their command post. In both instances the attacks were repulsed.

On 10 November 2004, the Battalion turned over responsibility for internal security operations in Masbate to Central Command (CENTCOM) in order to focus its triad operations in mainland Sorsogon province.

Between 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005, the unit recorded a total of 17 encounters, 10 raids, the capture of enemy combatants adn the recovery of weapons and equipment. In February 2005, a platoon from C Company and attached elements from the Division's Military Intelligence Battalion and CAA Companies overran an enemy encampment at Sitio Bariw, Brgy San Jose Upper, Bulusan, Sorsogon while conducting combat operations. Similarly operations by the Battalion in August 2005 discovered an abandoned training camp at Sitio Tarab-an, in the vicinity of Brgy Mambajog, Matnog, Sorsogon. Elements of the Battalion discovered yet another enemy encampment at Purok Beguin, Daan, Brgy Beguin, Bulan Sorsogon in September 2005 while conducting a hot pursuit. In October 2005 another encampment consisting of 3 makeshift huts, one classroom, 3 listening posts, and a tunnel used as scape route was discovered in the vicinity Brgy Roxas, Bulan Sorsogon.

Between 1 January 2006 and 31 March 2006, the unit recorded a total of 6 encounters that resulted in the neutralization of 4 enemy combatants and the recovery of weapons and equipment. In March 2006 elements of the Battalion discovered an abandoned enemy encampment at Sitio Beguin Daan, Brgy Beguin, Bulan, Sorsogon. The enemy encampment consisted of one main banker and 3 listening posts, along with a water source.