66th Infantry Battalion
"Kabalikat"
The mission of the 66th Infantry Battalion, "Kabalikat," is to conduct interal security operations against anti-government forces to provide a secure enviornment for peace and development in its area of operations. As of 2005 the unit was undergoing retraining with the 6th Infantry Division Training Unit at Camp Lucero, Brgy Nasapian, Carmen, Cotabato.
The 66th Infantry Battalion traces its lineage to the 66th Infantry Battalion, "Banat," which was part of the 3rd Infantry Division. It was inactivated in 1991. On 6 April 1998, Headquarters, Philippine Army issued an order to reactive the 66th Infantry Battalion. The Battalion was reactivated ostensibly in preparation for the Armed Forces of the Philippine's return to being the primary agency concerned with the internal security role, taking the mission back from the Philippine National Police and other agencies. However, Lieutenant General General Raul Urgello had also been a member of the Philippine Military Academy's class of 1966 and was a major proponent of the unit's reactivation. The AFP Chief of Staff was also a member of the Philippine Military Academy's class of 1966 and in May the transformation was completed.
The Battalion subsequently moved out from Camp Hernandez to Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz for consolidation, training, reorganization and refitting for its new mission. The Battalion was further boosted by the arrival of the personnel of what had been A Company, 61st Infantry Battalion, fresh from a tour of duty in the Lanao provinces in Mindanao. Other personnel came from various battalions assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division.
After finishing the 5 months of training, the Battalion was alerted for deployment to the areas of Northern Negros to conduct internal security operations. On 3 october 1998, the Battalion advance party arrived at Bacolod City Airport aboard a C-130 cargo plane. The rest of the Battalion arrived on 19 October 1998 and the unit established its headquarters in Brgy Burgos, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. The mission of the 66th Infantry Battalion became to conduct internal security operations in its area of responsibility and to be a effectives partner with local government agencies in their effort to promote development projects the area. This was the strategy adopted by the unit in consonance with counter insurgency efforts being conducted by the government throughout the Philippines.
In response to the insurgency in Central Negros, the Battalion headquarters moved to Camp Tirambulo, Brgy McKinley, Guiholngan, Negros Oriental. The 78th Infantry Battalion took over responsibility for its previous AOR. A Company deployed to Brgy Masulog, Canla-On City, in response to the fatal ambush of Vice Mayor Cardinas. C Company deployed to Brgy Tambo, Ayungon, Negros oriental. B Company sailed to Cebu to augment Task Force Sugbu already stationed there.
On 19 July 2000 the Battalion's Reconnaissance Platoon and elements of C Company encountered an enemy force in Brgy Lag-It, Tayasan, Negreos Oriental leading to a firefight that resulted in one enemy neutralized and the recovery of weapons. On 27 January 2001 CAA's under the operational control of a detachment from C Company experienced another encounter with the enemy in Brgy Tanlad, Tayasan, Negreos Oriental, which also resulted in the recovery of weapons.
Later in 2001, the 11th Infantry Battalion deployed to Basilan to augment other SOUTHCOM forces there. As a result the 66th Infantry Battalion's AOR was expanded to incorporate areas vacated by the 11th Infantry Battalion. The Battalion headquarters was relocated to Brgy Magalion Cadre, Moise Padilla, Negros Occidental on september 2001. From there the Reconnaissance Platoon again encountered enemy forces in Brgy Panaquiao, Isabila, Negros Occidental, inflicting minor casualties and recoverying weapons.
When the 11th Infantry Battalion returned to its previous AOR in January 2002, the 66th Infantry Battalion returned to its initial base at Camp Tirumbulo, Brgy McKinley, Guiholngan, Negros Oriental. B Company was stationed in Brgy Buenavista, Saame municipality, after a brief stint in Brgy Amen, Isabela, Negros Occidental.
On 13 May 2003, the 66th Infantry Battalion, still part of the 3rd Infantry Division, was redeployed to northern Mindanao to occupy areas vacated by the 67th Infantry Battalion, an element of the 4th Infantry Division. The objective of the Battalion in northern Mindanao was to secure the main supply route from Lanao del Sur to Lanao del Norte, as well as to be an effective partner with local government agencies in their effort to promote development projects in the area.
In 2003, in response to the insurgency in Central Mindanao and the need for normal retraining for the 47th Infantry Battalion, the 66th Infantry Battalion redeployed to take over areas vacated. The Battalion took over the AOR of 47th Infantry Battalion and its headquarters was moved to Brgy Tual, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat on 7 August 2003. Its previous AOR in Mindanao was taken over by elements of the Philippine Marine Corps.
The unit subsequently came to occupy an area from Pendatun to Lutayan in Sultan Kudarat, which consists of one city and 8 municipalities. The unit was also reassigned to the 604th Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division.
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