AFP, Philippine Army fete 80th Infantry ‘Steadfast’ Battalion
Rizal province completes ISPS status for entire Calabarzon
ARMED Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner and Philippine Army Commanding General Lt.General Roy Galido, personally led the officers, men, and women of the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) in recognizing the accomplishments and achievements of the 80th Infantry ‘Steadfast’ Battalion that cleared Rizal province and nearby areas from the clutches and violence of the ‘Narciso Antazo Aramil Command’ (NAAC) of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
Three prestigious streamers were added to the flag of the battalion headed by Lt. Colonel Mark Antony Ruby.
The ceremony forms part of the 49th anniversary celebration of the 2nd ID last April 14. It was held at the division’s headquarters at Camp General Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.
Also present during the occasion are Lt.General Facundo Palafox IV, SOLCOM area commander and 2nd ID commander, Maj.General Cerilo Balaoro.
The 80th IB is one of the field units of the 202nd ‘Unifier’ Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, SOLCOM and is responsible for internal security operations in Rizal.
The first streamer, the ‘Chief of Staff, AFP Streamer Award,’ is in recognition of the battalion’s dismantling of the NAAC last year.
The NAAC is a key part of the Sub-Regional Military Area 4A of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee (STRPC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) based in Rizal.
Last September, Rizal was officially classified as having achieved a ‘Stable Internal Peace and Security’ (SIPS) status during a ceremony in Antipolo City.
The ceremony was attended by top-ranking regional and national security officials headed by National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Eduardo M. Año and local officials headed by Governor Nina Ricci Ynares.
Año, who also hails from Rizal, spent his earlier military career in Southern Tagalog as battalion and brigade commander before being promoted as CGPA and AFP chief in his later years. Ruby, for his part, previously worked as a close military aide of Año.
Rizal’s ‘insurgency-free’ status thru the efforts of the 80th IB completed the clearing of the entire Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) from the clutches of the CPP-NPA.
The four other provinces were previously granted SIPS status.
From the late 80s to the middle 2000s, Southern Tagalog is considered as among the “bulwark” of CPP-NPA strength in the entire country and the most influential in Southern Luzon.
The second streamer, ‘The Commanding General, Philippine Army (CGPA) Bayanihan Streamer Award’ is for recognizing the battalion’s efforts that severely weakened the NAAC.
The third streamer, the ‘CGPA Significant Accomplishment Streamer Award’ is for the unit’s successful discovery of an NPA arms cache late last year in Barangay Umiray, General Nakar, Quezon.
Two M16 rifles, one M4 Carbine, one 40mm M203 Grenade Launcher, one improvised M14 rifle and two improvised shotguns were recovered.
General Brawner said the recognitions showcased the battalion’s determination to protect the people from the threats posed by communist terrorists.
For his part, Ruby, in a statement, said the awards are not only for his unit but also, for all the soldiers and stakeholders and the people in the communities who supported them in their common goal of forging peace and progress in the region.
He added his unit shall continue to serve as a model and inspiration for bravery and integrity for other field units of the Philippine Army.
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