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6th Infantry Battalion
"Red Skin"

The mission of the 6th Infantry Battalion is to conduct internal security operations against anti-government groups in order to assist the government and private agencies in development of the area of responsibility and in adjacent areas, either independently or as a part of a larger force.

The 6th Infantry Battalion was activated on 1 March 1973 pursuant to Section 1, General Orders Number 383, General Headquarters, Armred Forces of the Philippines, dated 27 March 1973. Soon after its activation the unit was dispatched to Central Mindanao. There it was placed under the operational control of Central Mindanao Command (CEMCOM). The unit participated in the campaign against the muslim secessionist movement, first engaging the enemy at Solon, Sultan Kudarat. After 3 weeks in the area, the unit was then airlifted to Mati, Davao Oriental on 12 April 1973 to reinforce the Philippine Constabulary and other police elements who had been ambushed. Combat operations was launched primarily to clear the ambush area. After 5 days of operations the Battalion had successfully cleared the area.

In June 1973, the unit recorded its first weapons recovery after an encounter with the enemy at Brgy Lukatan, Taragona, Davao Oriental. The unit conducted a series of combat operations in the barangays of Mati and succeeded in capturing a large enemy camp near Tagsagaong, Mati, Davao Oriental. In mid-September 1973, the unit was redeployed to Cotabato City, where it recieved an award for its conduct, before being deployed to Buluan, Maguindanao on 20 September 1973.

Major Hilario Duhay-Lungsod, a native of Siquijor province and popularly known as the Father of the Red Skin, took command of the Battalion between late 1973 and 1974. Under his command the unit continued sweeping operations in its area of responsibility, particularly Alamada, North Cotabato. Major Duhay-Lungsod was killed in an ambush outside Pigkalagan, Sultan Kudarat. In his honor the unit eventually took the name "Red Skin."

On 16 November 1974, the unit was redeployed to Pikit, North Cotabato to replace the 27th Infantry Battalion. The unit initially experienced serious harassment by the enemy before finally bringing the area under government control. On 24 December 1974, the 6th Infantry Battalion moved to Parang, Maguindanao and on up to the border between Cotabato and Lanao. It established its Battalion headquarters at Buldon, Maguindanao. In Buldon, civic actions led to the surrender of approximately 500 rebels, who were granted amnesty after pledging allegiance to the government. The unit then moved out of Buldon and subsequent combat operations in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur resulted in the surrender of Commander Cotongan and 30 of his followers.

The Battalion was called back to the 3rd Infantry Division base at Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City on 15 December 1975 to undergo retraining and reorganization. The Battalion was reorganized to include a fourth rifle company and subsequently increased overall authorized size. The unit was again called to Camp Lapu-Lapu on 16 February 1976 for another retraining and reorganization. The unit conduct civic actions in Cebu during the retraining process.

In mid-1976 the 6th Infantry Battalion was split, with 2 companies being formed into Task Force Pugad Lawin and the other 2 being formed into Task Force Leyte on 25 June 1976. Task Force Pugad Lawin was deployed to Panay Island to conduct combat operations, while Task Force Leyte was deployed to Leyte. On 26 September 1976, the Battalion's companies reunited and the entire unit left Cebu City for Mindanao.

On 21 March 1977, the 6th Infantry Battalion conducted a rescue mission for passengers of the capsized M/L Magaloyan in Lake Lanao. Also during 1977 the unit conducted combat operations that resulted in the capture and neutralization of enemy forces on Nusa-Nusa Island, and two individual base camps. In 1978, the unit launched 9 major and minor operations in its area of responsibility and also conducted civic actions.

On 1 March 1980, pursuant to Section 1, General Orders Number 65, Headquarters, Philippine Army, the unit was reassigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. The unit was reassigned back to the 3rd Infantry Division on 16 December 1980. In 1982, the 6th Infantry Battalion recorded a total of 8 military operations within the province of Lanao del Sur. The most significant among others was the capture and of 2 rebel camps in Ilalag, Maguing, Lanao del Sur. Between 17 June 1982 and 17 August 1984, the 6th Infantry Battalion assumed responsibility for all of Lanao del Sur. Stability operations were then conducted against the MNLF and Commander Narra, resulting in the recovery of weapons and contraband and the inflicting of minor casualties on the enemy.

In May 1986, the unit was redeployed to the island of Negros. The Battalion established its headquarters at Brgy Tinongan, Isabela, Negros Occidental on 26 May 1986. Minor combat operations were conducted in the new area of responsibility, but civil-military operations were give increased importance in the Battalion's mission.

Between 1986 and 1987 the unit conducted numerous combat operations. 9 April 1987, 2 Sections of D Company (Scout Ranger) captured an NPA headquarters in Sitio Binitingan, Brgy Cansalongon, Isabela, Negros Occidental, inflicting minor casualties and recovering weapons and foodstuffs. Earlier in the month, on 4 April 1987, the unit had suffered casualties during an ambush near Brgy Pulang Lupa, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental. In September 1988 the unit conduct another successful operation when elements of A Company, acting as a blocking force on Hill 1000 engaged enemy forces neutralizing 5 and forcing the rest to disperse. The unit subsequently recovered various weapons and equipment.

On 29 October 1989, pursuant to Negros Island Command's (NICOM) Operation Plan Rolling Stone, the unit departed Central Negros for the Oriental side of the Province, taking control of an area of responsibility consisting of one city and 6 municipalities. There the unit engaged in operations using the Lambat Bitag concept.

In 1990, the unit participated in 6 actions intiated by its parent brigade, initiated 5 battalion sized operations, conducted 11 platoon sized operations and thousands of small unit patrols. These operations resulted to 34 government initiated encounters inflicting numerous casualties on the enemy and recovering weapons and equipment. The unit also recieved the surrender of enemy forces and supports as a result of Special Operations Team activities.

On 7 June 1991, the unit received an alert order from NICOM to prepare for redeployment outside Negros Island. On 5 July 1991 the unit departed for the province of Antique. The Battalion arrived on 7 July 1991 and was temporarily billeted at Camp Fullon, San Jose, Antique. On 12 July 1991 the unit recieved a new area of responsibility that consisted of 6 municipalities in the province of Antique: Patnongon, Valderrama, San Remigio, Belison, Sibalom and Bugasong. The Battalion headquarters was initially established at Patnongon. The other elements of the Battalion were dispersed throughout the AOR.

During 1991, the unit participated in 14 brigade initiated major operations, 9 on Negros Island and 6 in Antique. The unit itself initiated 6 battalion sized operations and conducted 15 SOT operations. All the operations together resulted in 14 government initiated encounters leading to the neutralization and capture of enemy personnel and the recovery of weapons and equipment.

In early 1993 the unit initiated 2 encounters with the enemy and conduct one raid, which resulted to recovery of weapons and equipment. SOT and similar operations also led to the clearing of 6 Barangays, the surrender of numerous enemy personnel and supporters and the recovery of additional weapons. In late 1993 the unit initiated a number of major operations, and conducted 21 company sized operations, 23 platoon sized operations and conducted over a thousand small unit patrols. These operations resulted in the discovery of 6 abandoned rebel encampments, while the unit experienced 12 encounters with the enemy and conducted 3 raids. Throughout 1993 the unit was able to recover various weapons and documents and use SOT and similar operations to clear 70 Barangays, recieving the surrender of numerous members of anti-government groups and their supporters. These operations included a 4 day civic action and an inter-agency conference in Antique on 16 August 1993.

Eventually the unit ceded primary responsibility for counter insugency operations in the towns of Belison and Patnongon to the Philippine National Police, while its area of responsibility was extended north to include the municipalities of Lawaan, Barbaza and Tibiao. The unit continued to conduct operations until 1995, when it moved to Brgy Lagdungan, Tapaz, Capiz for retraining.

After the retraining the unit was deployed to Brgy Libas, Banga, Aklan on 10 January 1996 and assumed the area of responsibility formerly held by the 47th Infantry Battalion, which had been redeployed to Mindanao. On 11 March 1996, the unit moved to the municipality of Navas, Aklan and established its Battalion headquarters in Brgy Lazerna. On 11 May 1996, the unit was moved to Brgy Kinalangay Biejo in the same municipality. On 20 July 1996, the unit was moved yet again to Brgy Banay-Banay in the same municipality. Throughout the deployment in Aklan, the unit focused on non-combat activities. The unit continued to focus on SOT operations into 1997.

In 2001, the unit deployed to Sulu to combat the rising insurgency there. During its time there, the 6th Infantry Battalion succeeded in inflicting more casualties than it recieved. On 13 February 2003, the Battalion left Sulu to reinforce the troops in Central Mindanao and the escalating conflict in Buliok, Pikit, North Cotabato against the MILF. The 6th Infantry Battalion arrived in the port of Polloc, Parang, Maguindanao on 16 February 2003 and immediately moved to the 6th Infantry Division's headquarters at Camp Siongco, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. On 17 February the Battalion moved to the Division Temporary Command Post at Fort Pikit, North Cotabato. C Company remained in the Datu Odin Sinsuat area and was placed under the operational control of Task Force Tugis. The rest of the Battalion was placed under the operational control of the 602nd Infantry Brigade and was immediately ordered to conduct a relief in place with elements of the 40th and 39th Infantry Battalions in the Buliok Complex. Their mission was to hold, defend and deny the enemy the Buliok Complex, a general headquarters area for the MILF.

Between 25 February 2003 and 13 March 2003 the unit repelled numerous enemy attacks. During the fighting C Company was reunited with the rest of the Battalion to reinforce the positions in the Buliok Complex. The unit inflicted approximately 400 casualties on the MILF in what became known as the Battle of the Defense of Buliok. After being assigned in Buliok, Pikit, Cotabato for 3 months, the 6th Infantry Battalion was redeployed to Brgy Taviran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on 20 May 2003. There the unit replaced the 57th Infantry Battalion covering the areas of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Kabuntalan, all in Maguindanao. The 6th Infantry Battalion also became the lead element in Joint Task Unit Tugis, until it was replaced by the 7th Infantry Battalion in 2004.