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37th Infantry Battalion
"Go Seek and Conquer"

The mission of the 37th Infantry Battalion, "Go Seek and Conquer," is to conduct sustained internal security operations in its area of responsibility against anti-government groups. This is in order to secure the area of operations, including its populace, and assist the local government agencies and other government organizations in the performance of their mandate in order to establish an environment conducive to development.

The 37th Infantry Battalion traces its lineage to a provisional battalion that was activated on 4 August 1974 pursuant to General Orders Number 189, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines, dated 6 September 1974. The unit was placed under the operational control of the 4th Infantry Division. On 1 April 1976 the unit was redesignated as the 37th Infantry Battalion, a regular battalion in the Philippine Army, and placed under the operational control of the 2nd Infantry Division based at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

On 16 October 1976, the unit was placed under the operational control of Western Command (WESCOM) and the unit established its base in San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City. There the unit was once again reassigned, placed under the operational control of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, part of Central Mindanao Command (CEMCOM) in Siasi, Jolo, Sulu. The unit scored its first victory on 5 February 1978 when it routed enemy combatants on Logus Island, Tacul, Jolo, Sulu. The enemy later surrendered to the unit leading to the recovery of weapons.

Between 1978 and 1984 the unit was placed uIn March 1979 the unit was transferred to Buayan, Genral Santos, and placed under the operational control of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. On 8 October 1981, the unit was placed under the operational control of Task Force Aguda, CEMCOM. In February 1983 the Battalion returned to the operational control of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division before being reassigned to Task Force Diamond, part of the 4th Infantry Division. In May 1983, the unit was once again reassigned and placed under the operational control of Task Force Panther, 1st Scout Ranger Regiment.

Between 1984 and 1988, the unit occupied 4 different stations. In October 1984 the unit was deployed to Doña Andrea, Asuncion, Davao del Norte. It was redeployed to Malabog, Paquibato, Davao City in November 1985. After that it was deployed to Mintal, Davao City in May 1986, before being deployed to Lun Padidu, Malapatan, South Cotabato in July 1986. The unit was also assigned to various units during these deployments, including the 1st Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Panther, and the 12th Infantry Brigade (Separate). In October 1987, the 12th Infantry Brigade (Separate) transformed into the 6th Infantry Division, to which the 37th Infantry Battalion found itself attached. During these operations the unit conducted numerous internal security operations inflicting casualties on the enemy and recovering weapons, equipment, and documents.

In December 1988, the Battalion's main command post was transfered at Libertad, Alabel, South Cotabato. From its base there, the unit transferred to Sitio Cogon, Brgy Tuban, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur on 29 January 1992 in order to reinforce the government presence there, conducting numerous Special Operations Team operations.

During 1993, operations conduct by the 37th Infantry Battalion caused rebels under Commander Benzar to shift efforts to Makilala, North Cotabato, giving up Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur to government control. Lieutenant Colonel Cardozo M. Luna took command of the unit on 15 November 95 and started his tenure by launching a program called "Kahoy Ko, Buhay Mo." Under this civic action program the unit was able to plant 37,000 trees throughout Davao del Sur. The unit also continued to conduct combat operations recieving the surrender of numerous enemy combatants and recovering weapons. The success of civic action programs led to expanded civil-military operations by the Battalion.

On 29 August 1996, a unit command post was establish at Brgy Salunayan, Midsayap, Cotabato in order to secure the road that connected Midsayap, Cotabato and Datu Piang, Maguindanao. In 1998 due to the changing nature of internal threats, the Battlion was transferred to Makilala, North Cotabato. In March 1999 the unit was again transferred to Brgy Salbu, Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Here the unit continued to conduct internal security and civil-military operations into 2002.