9th Infantry Division
"The Spear"
The mission of the 9th Infantry Division is to conduct internal security operations in its area of responsibility in order to create a secure enviornment conducive to development.
The 9th Infantry traces its lineage to the 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate), "Orgullo," which was activated in 2002. The activation was a product of the reorganization of Armed Forces of the Philippines Unified Commands into Area Commands based on Letter Directive, dated 7 May 2002. As a result the commander of Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) recommended for the activation of a Brigade (Separate) in the Bicol region due to the sizeable number of enemy activities within SOLCOM AOR. Enemy activities in Region IV and V added to the strain on SOLCOM's units.
It was also determined that the location of the 202nd and 203rd Infantry Brigades were considerably far from their parent 2nd Infantry Division's headquarters, making supervision, as well as administration, logistical support, and orchestration of combat operation the Command and control of tactical units unwieldy. Personnel of the Brigades, and the battalions under their operational control in Bicol had to travel to Tanay for admin-related matters, re-supply, hospitalization, and any other task requiring access to Division support elements.
The 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was activated pursuant to General Orders Number 456, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 2 September 2002. On same order, 901st and 902nd Infantry Brigades were activated, with personnel and equipment taken from the 2nd Infantry Division's 202nd and 203rd Infantry Brigades, which were subsequently inactivated. The 2nd, 22nd, and 42nd Infantry Battalions were also reassigned to the new unit. The 31st Infantry Battalion, 2 Batteries of the 4th Field Artillery Battalion, and 2 Companies from the Light Armor Brigade were also placed under the Brigade's operational control.
In addition between 15 August 2002 to 31 December 2002, the 1st and 2nd Camarines del Norte CAA Companies, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Camarines del Sur CAA Companies, and the 2nd Masbate CAA Company were activated, adding to the resources of the Brigade. The 9th Brigade (Separate) quickly deployed elements of the 42nd Infantry Battalion, then under the operational control of the 902nd Infantry Brigade, to the Island province of Catanduanes, relieving elements of the 901st Infantry Brigade stationed in the area.
On 20 October 2002, the 902nd Brigade transferred its headquarters from Brgy Tara to Brgy Bolo Sur, Sipocot, Camarines del Sur. On 1 November 2002, the Headquarters, 9th Brigade (Separate) activated the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training pursuant to General Orders Number 11, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate), dated 15 November 2002.
Between the unit's activation in late 2002 and January 2003 the 9th Infantry Battalion (Separate) expanded, pursuant to General Orders Number 3, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate), dated 12 January 2003. The activated units included the 9th Signal Battalion, activated on 1 September 2002; the 9th Civil Affairs Unit, 9th Brigade Training Unit, and a Brigade Reconnaissnace Company, all activated on 1 November 2002; the 82nd Military Intelligence Company, activated on 11 November 2002; and a Headquarters and Headquarters Service Company, Service Support Battalion, and Engineer Combat Company, all activated on 1 January 2003.
On 15 June 2003, the 902nd Infantry Brigade returned to Brgy Tulay in Lupa, Labo, Camarines del Norte. The 31st Infantry Battalion also activated a provisional fourth company, D Company (Provisional) as a result of the campaign plan Manu-Mano, initiated by the 902nd Infantry Brigade, and the Battalion's own campaign plan, Delta Force, to address the insurgency problem in the 1st District of Camarines del Sur. The 31st Infantry Battalion was required to cover areas vacated by 42nd Infantry Battalion when the latter assumed responsibility for internal security operations in Catanduanes. As a result, the 31st Infantry Battalion transferred its Battalion Headquarters to Brgy Bolo, Sipocot, Camarines del Sur. The 42nd Infantry Battalion had vacated its position at Brgy Banga Caves, Ragay, Camarines Sur and transferred its Bn Command Post at Mabalodbalod, Tigaon, Camarines Sur on 13 March 2003.
On 9 June 2003, the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion was placed under the operational control of the 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate), pursuant to an Operational Directive, 03-2003, from Headquarters SOLCOM, dated 1 June 2003. On 15 June 2003, Task Force Orgullo was activated, pursuant to General Orders Number 69, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate), dated 8 June 2003.
On 1 August 2003, the 65th Infantry Battalion was reactivated and assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate). The unit was organized at Sitio Kabukludan, which subsequently became Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines del Sur. It was first activated on 16 April 1987 pursuant to General Orders Number 232 HPA, dated 9 June 1987, but had been inactivated due to a reorganization across the Philippine Army. On 15 December 2003, the 22nd Infantry Battalion was designated as the Cadre Battalion of 9th Infantry Division (Provisional), pursuant to General Orders Number 655, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 11 December 2003.
On 12 January 2004, the 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was transformed into the 9th Infantry Division (Provisional), which was activated pursuant to General Orders Number 56, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 26 January 2004. The provisional Division's headquarters was stationed at Camp Elias Angeles at Brgy San Jose, Pili, Camarines del Sur. On 15 January 2004, the 92nd Recon Company was activated pursuant to General Orders Number 65, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division (Provisional), dated 3 April 2004, and on 1 Apr 2004 the unit was placed under the operational control of the 9th Infantry Division (Provisional). On 16 January 2004, the 31st Infantry Battalion was assigned to 9th Infantry Division (Provisional) from 2nd Infantry Division pursuant, pursuant to General Orders Number 49, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 21 January 2004.
In an unfortunate chain of events 3 successive typhoons struck the Bicol Region, causing major damage to the new Division's facilities in November 2004. However, on 1 October 04, the 9th Infantry Division (Provisional) was upgraded to a regular Infantry Division, pursuant to General Orders Number 517, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 6 October 04.
On 25 October 2004, the province of Masbate was absorbed by 8th Infantry Division as part of a strategic realignment of the AOR initiated by the Philippine Army Headquarters. On 10 November 2004, the 2nd Infantry Battalion turned over the responsibility for internal security operations in Masbate to 8th Infantry Division and Central Command (CEMCOM), and focused its TRIAD operations in mainland province of Sorsogon. One rifle company of 2nd Infantry Battalion had remained on Masbate Island since 11 August 1999.
On 12 January 2005, the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion was placed under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade to assist in internal security operations in the Brigade's AOR. On 1 February 2005, the Management and Fiscal Office, 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Army (MFO) was activated pursuant to General Orders Number 40, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 24 January 2005.
On 15 February 2005, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operation and Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training were deactivated and their functional areas were absorbed by the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, pursuant to General Orders Number 40, Headquarters, Philippine Army, dated 24 January 2005. Also on 15 February 2005, the 5th Field Artillery Battalion, 9th Infantry Division was activated, pursuant to General Orders Number 28, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, dated 7 February 2005.
On 15 March 2005, the responsibility for internal security operations in Catanduanes province was transferred from 902nd Infantry Brigade to 901st Infantry Brigade. Also on 15 March 2005, the 91st Reconnaissance Company was placed under the operational control of the 901st Infantry Brigade due to the Brigade's expanded AOR. The Brigade's AOR included the Catanduanes Island. On 1 April 2005, the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems, 9th Infantry Division was activated pursuant to General Orders Number 123, Headquarters 9th Infantry Division, dated 29 March 2005. In the same orders, the Office of the Division Signal Officer, 9th Infantry Division was deactivated.
On 25 November 2005, Task Force Liwanag was activated pursuant to General Orders Number 21, Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division, dated 13 January 2006. On 14 December 2005, the 92nd Reconnaissance Company was placed under the operational control of the 902nd Infantry Brigade to make up for a reduction in man power while the 42nd Infantry Battalion underwent retraining.
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