• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Joint Task Unit Tugis
Task Force Tugis

The mission of Joint Task Unit Tugis is to conduct internal security operations and neutralize all threat groups in order to establish a secured environment conducive to development in the areas of Cotabato City, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, North Upi and South Upi.

As part of Instruction 01-2001 "Eagle Eye" and Southern Command's (SOUTHCOM) anti-terrorist contengency plan, dated 2 October 2001, Task Force Tugis was formed. The unit was activated on 29 January 2002 as part of the 6th Infantry Division pursuant to General Orders Number 28, Headquarters, 6th Infantry Division, dated 19 January 2002. The activation coincided with the inactivation of Task Force Sagitarius. Task Force Tugis was responsible for the internal security operations in Cotabato City and the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, North and South Upi, all in Maguindanao.

The 6th Infantry Division provided the staff for the Task Force headquarters. The unit itself consisted initially of Task Group Cotabato and the 57th Infantry Battalion (-). Task Group Cotabato was activated at the same time as the Task Force and included the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion, B Comapny 57th Infantry Battalion, the 3rd and 4th MAG-CAA Companies, CCPO, MAG-CDC, and 12th RCDG, all responsible for the internal defence of the cotabato city. The 57th Infantry Battalion (-) included the 6th Reconnaissance Company, 5th and 10th SK-CAA Companies, the 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 16th, 18th, and 19th MAG-CAA Companies, and PNP units, all responsible for the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, North and South Upi, all in Maguindanao. The Task Force headquarters was located at PC Hill, Cotabato City.

In 2002 the Task Force headquarters was relocated to the location formerly occupied by the 6th Division Artillery Regiment headquarters, located with the 6th Infantry Division headquarters. The headquarters returned to PC Hill, Cotabato City in October 2002 to restore peace and order in the city following a string of criminal acts and to better control the Task Force's units. In coordination with CCPO and other law enforcement agencies, checkpoints and mobile patrols were conducted day and night in the city utilizing headquarters personnel, units under its operational command, and augmented personnel from from the 6th Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battalion, all as part of Operation Kapkap Bakal. The operation resulted in the reduction of criminality and a normalized situation. By the end of October 2002 the Task Force headquarters had again left PC Hill for the former 6th Division Artillery Regiment building at Camp Siongco, but in such a way that it could continue its mission and functions in the city.

Between 24 September 2002 to 28 February 2003 the Task Force initiated 3 Operations Plans/Operations Orders/Campaign Plans on the ground operations, was able to supervise and monitor 3 battalion operations, 24 company operations, 67 small unit combat operations, 61 section/squad combat operations, and thousands of team operations initiated by units under its operationa command. The unit neutralized 6 enemy combatants during these operations and recieved the surrender of numerous others, while also recovering weapons. The Task Force directed or otherwise monitored 45 anti-crime operations in the Cotabato City, in one case rescuing kidnap victims and capturing the kidnappers.

In February 2003 Task Force Tugis was redesignated Joint Task Unit Tugis, pursuant to the creation of Joint Task Group Kampilan in compliance with the joint implementing guidelines, General Orders Number 2 and Memorandum Orders Numbers 61, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines and pursuant to General Orders Number 122, Headquarters, 6th Infantry Division, dated 28 February 2003. In 2003 the 57th Infantry Battalion was also reassigned from Joint Task Unit Tugis to the 601st Infantry Brigade, being replaced by the 6th Infantry Battalion.

In 2004, the 7th Infantry Battalion replaced the 6th Infantry Battalion as the element of the 6th Infantry Division assigned to Joint Task Unit Tugis. The Division contiously rotated infantry battalions assigned to it through Joint Task Unit Tugis.