801st Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division
1st Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Brigade (Separate)
The 801st Infantry Brigade was first organized on 1 July 1986 pursuant to General Order Number 113, Headquarters, Philippine Army dated June 1986. The Brigade was first organized as 1st Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Brigade (Separate), and was composed of personnel and equipment sourced from the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which was inactivated. The Brigade headquarters with its operationally controlled units, initially the 19th Infantry Battalion and 52nd Infantry Battalion, were deployed in Northern Samar as its designated area of responsibility.
After 2 years, the 52nd Infantry Battalion was released from the operational control of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division. 4 months later, the 8th Special Forces Company was added to the combat units of the Brigade, but for only 5 months. On 28 April 1989 a Special Forces team left behind and handled the CAFGU training in the 1st Brigade's AOR. To contain the growing threat in the Northern Samar, the 62nd Infantry Battalion was placed under the operational control of the Brigade from 16 December 1988 to 5 October 1989.
The attack of 3 Military Detachments in the Catarman and San Isidro areas on 9 October 1990, necessitated the deployment of additional troops. The 8th Special Forces Company was again placed under the operational control of the brigade and deployed to cover Northeast portion of Catarman, Munragon and Silveno Lobos.
On 11 March 1991, the 20th Infantry Battalion also added to the Brigade's maneuvering units. The Brigade was tasked to cover the whole of Balicuatro, Northern Samar.
With the implementation of Campaign Plan "Lambat Bitag" from 1992 to 1994, the Brigade'ss with its operational control units, the 19th Infantry Battalion, 20th Infantry Battalion and 8th Special Forces Company intensified its counter insurgency operations in Northern Samar. This resulted in the clearing of 120 barangays from terrorist influence, surrender of a large number of rebels and sympathizers.
Stability in Northern Samar convinced higher headquarters to reduce troops in the province for redeployment in a more critical areas in the country. On 22 April 1997, the 3rd Special Forces Company was released and redeployed to the Southern Philippines. This was followed by the pull-out of the 8th Scout Ranger Company from the area of responsibility on 20 June 1997 for redeployment to Negros Island. With only the 19th Infantry Battalion, higher headquarters saw the need of relinquish portion of its area of reasonability to 803rd Brigade, 8th Infantry Division. With the communist rebel threat greatly reduced, on 16 April 1998, the 801st Infantry Brigade was deactivated.
On 1 May 2000, the 801st Brigade was again reactivated with its personnel and equipment sourced from 8th Infantry Division and its subordinate units. Shortly after reactivation, the Brigade was moved from its temporary station in Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar and was airlifted to Camp Dagohoy, Tagbilaran City in the province of Bohol as its temporary command post. The unit took operational control of the 12th Infantry Battalion, 7th Special Forces Company, and the 12th Scout Ranger Company. The Brigade, with the support of the populace in the area, successfully launched offensive operations that resulted in 4 engagements that resulted in the recovery of weapons and equipment.
On 16 March 2001, the 801st infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division was pulled back to region 8 and redeployed in Western Samar. Within almost 4 months, the Brigade had already set initial gains, with the 34th and 52nd Infantry Battalions conducting operations resulting the capture of weapons. During this period the Brigade was stationed at Camp Daza, Fatima, Hinabangan, Samar, while the units under its operation control were located elsewhere. The 52nd Infantry Battalion was based at Brgy Bitaog-Lawaan, Eastern Samar, the 82nd Reconnaissance Company was based at Brgy Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar and the 83rd Reconnaissance Company was based at Brgy Fatima, Bagakay, Samar.
On 29 June 2002, 14th Infantry Battalion was redeployment from its area of operation in Eastern Samar to SOUTHCOM AOR. On 28 June 2003, just over a year combating the ASG and MILF in Jolo, Sulo, the Battalion was pulled back to its former AOR. The 14th Infantry Battalion was subsequently moved to Brgy Dao, Oras, East Samar.
On 12 August 2003, Headquarters, 8th Infantry Division issued a warning order that upon arrived of 62nd Infantry Division in Samar Island, the unit was placed under the operational control of the 801st Infantry Brigade and would be co-located temporarily with the Brigade Headquarters for the purpose of Battalion retraining. On 18 August 2003, the 62nd Infantry Battalion disembarked at Catbalog Port after traveling via Philippine Navy vessel from Mindanao. On 26 August 2003, the Battalion retraining was completed and the unit was deployed to an AOR covering the 15 municipalities of Eastern Samar from Sulat to Lawaan and Marabut in Samar.
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