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3rd Infantry Battalion
"Regardless of Want"

The mission of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, "Regardless of Want," is to provide personnel to act as cadres to perform administrative and control function to all CAA's in the 603rd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Brigade areas of operation. This is in order to freely maneuver units from CAA handling and maximize their maneuver function. The unit is also tasked to conduct sustained internal security operations in the municipalities of Pigcawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap and Banisilan, all of North Cotabato in order to establish a secured environment conducive to national development and progress.

The 3rd Infantry Battalion traces its lineage to the 3rd Battalion Combat Team, which was organized in the early 1950s at the height of the Huk rebellion. It was organized along with 3 other battalions, directly under the 2nd Military Area, Philippine Army. Its initial area of operation included Quezon province and the adjoining provinces in Southern Luzon. During the period of the Huk Rebellion the unit garnered numerous awards for its conduct. In spite of these achievements, however, the unit was deactivated in 1957 as the situation normalized and the size of the Philippine Army was reduced.

On 1 March 1973, the unit was reactivated as the 3rd Infantry Battalion at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal. The unit was assigned the 2nd Infantry Brigade (Separate). The 2nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) was eventually transformed into the 2nd Infantry Division. In May 1986, the unit was relieved from the 2nd Infantry Division and reassigned to the 12th Infantry Brigade (Separate). In October 1987 the 12th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was transformed into the 6th Infantry Divisino, of which the 3rd Infantry Battalion became a part.

The unit conducted retraining, completing it in April 1995. On 18 May 1995 the unit was given a new area of responsibility covering the municipalities of Carmen, Kabacan, M'lang, Matalam and parts of Makilala, all in North Cotabato and the municipalitiy of Pagalungan, Maguindanao. The Battalion headquarters was situated in Sitio Tondo, Poblacion, Carmen, Cotabato.

The unit subsequently saw action in Mindanao in operations against the MNLF in Maguindanao Province, the municipalities of Kiamba, Glan and Maitum, all in South Cotabato, in both Davao del Sur and del Norte, and the province of North Cotabato. The unit particiapted in 14 major encounters with the enemy from May 1996 to July 1998. It also participated in 6 major encounters in Bulit, Lumayong and Malabuaya, Kabacan, North Cotabato between June and July 1997. During these operations approximately 80 hostages were rescued from the MILF. The unit also participated in Operation Aries, the return of the Narciso Ramos Highway to government control, and to the capture of the major MILF camp, Camp Abubakar.

On 12 July 1999, the unit transferred to a new area of responsibility covering the municipalities of Buldon, Sultan Kudarat, Parang, Matanog and parts of Barira, all in Maguindanao. The Battalion headquarters was at Barangay Dinganen, Buldon, Maguindanao. On September 2001 the headquarters was relocated to Sitio Ambal, Barangay Aratuc, Buldon, Magundanao. The headquarters was again relocated to Barangay Nituan, Parang, Maguindanao. Through the shifts the unit continued to conduct combat and civil-military operations.