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803rd Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division
"Peacemaker"
"Camurayao"

The 803rd Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army was organized and activated on 11 July 1988 as a Provisional Brigade, pursuant to General Orders Number 257, Headquarters, Philippine Army dated 14 July 1988. Its headquarters were colocated with the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar.

On 12 September 1988, the provisional brigade with the 2 infantry battalions under its operational control, the 20th Infantry Battalion and 34th Infantry Battalion, were move from Catbalogan, Samar to Southern Leyte and initially established its headquarters at San Isidro, Sogod, Southern, Leyte. The 43rd Infantry Battalion base at barangay Malinao, Mahaplag, Leyte was also placed under the operational control of the brigade in order to establish a strong presence in Leyte. Likewise, the Southern Leyte Constabulary Command was also placed under operational control of the Brigade. Moreover, the Brigade supervised and controlled 1) CAFGU Companies, which were activated in the Island of Samar.

Under the stewardship of the first brigade commander, Colonel Dublin the clearing Southern Leyte was a result of the units aggressive implementation of AFP's Operation "Lupig-Lipol," thereby decimating and dismantling the insurgency movement in the area of its operational responsibility.

On 18 March 1990, the Brigade assumed its new area of responsibility (AOR) to confront the alarming growth of CPP/NPA in the Southern part of Samar Island. The brigade temporarily established its headquarters at Brgy Parasanon, Pinabacdao, Samar, colocated with the 52nd Infantry Battalion. It subsequently relocated to a new headquarters at Brgy Caticugan, Santa Rita, Samar, on 29 May 1990, were it stayed for almost 6 years.

On 16 October 1990 the 803rd Infantry (Provisional) Brigade was upgraded to a regular tactical Infantry Brigade Pursuant to General Orders Number 563, Headquarters Philippine Army dated 16 October 1990. The Brigade adopted "Camurayao" as its motto, which means peace and tranquility in the Waray dialect.

On 20 May 1998, the 803rd Infantry Brigade moved from Caticugan, Santa Rita, Samar to the Headquarters of the deactivated 801st Infantry Brigade at Camp Sumoroy, Northern Samar. It was during this stint in Northern Samar that the "Peacemaker" slogan came into being replacing "Camurayao" with the new AOR of the Brigade. The 19th Infantry Battalion and the newly reactivated 63rd Infantry Battalion were placed under the operational control of the Brigade, with an AOR covering the whole province of Northern Samar and Calbayog City.

On 21 November 2001 the 19th Infantry Battalion was moved to Western Mindanao on to augment troops committed to quell the uprising of Nur Misuari followers.

To add more muscle to the unit, the 3rd Scout Ranger Company was placed under the operational control of the 34th Infantry Battalion, 803rd Infantry Brigade to conduct strike operations in the hinterlands of Samar. However, said Scout Ranger Company was released from this assignment effective 26 January 2004 and was replaced by the 17th Scout Ranger Company pursuant to paragraph 2 of the same order. In January 2004 the Brigade had only the 34th Infantry Battalion, 63rd Infantry Battalion and the 17th Scout Ranger Company under its operational control.

With the addition of the 20th Infantry Battalion on 1 May 2004 the Brigade's capability was strengthened and it began concentrating its effort in decimating the communist terrorist and the dismantling of the priority guerilla fronts in the province of Northern Samar and Calbayog City. The 17th Scout Ranger Company was released from operational control of the 803rd Infantry Brigade effective 26 January 2004 pursuant to paragraph 1 General Order Number 14, Headquarters, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army dated January 2004. B Company, 52nd Infantry Battalion (Cadre) and the 82nd Reconnaissance Company were placed under the operational control of the 803rd Infantry Brigade effective 26 July 2004 pursuant to paragraph 2 General Order Number 14, Headquraters, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army dated 26 January 2004.




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