Eighth Infantry Division | |
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Active | August 1, 1988 – present |
Country | Philippines |
Branch | Philippine Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Conventional Warfare, Anti-Guerrilla Operations |
Size | 3 Brigades |
Part of | Philippine Army (Since 1988) |
Garrison/HQ | Camp General Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar |
Nickname(s) | Storm Trooper Division |
Anniversaries | August 1 |
Engagements |
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Commanders | |
Current commander | MGen. Camilo Z. Ligayo, PA |
Notable commanders |
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Insignia | |
Armed Forces Occupational Specialty Insignia |
Current Philippine Army Divisions | |
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Previous | Next |
7th Division (PA) | 9th Division (PA) |
The 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Storm Trooper Division, is one of the Philippine Army's Infantry units in the Visayas and under the AFP Central Command, combating local communist insurgent units, and terrorists.
The division was established on August 1, 1988, with headquarters at Camp General Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar. The local government soldiers and officers under the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army was sending the combat operations in the Visayas region and the engagements of the Anti-Communist Operations and helping aided and supported of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the CAFGU militia forces against the communist rebels of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) and other local criminal elements.
During the Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines under the War on Terrorism and the Islamic Insurgency in Mindanao, Southern Philippines. The local government troops of the Philippine Army 8th Infantry "Storm Trooper" Division was sending the clearing combat operations in Mindanao on Southern Philippines and the engagements of the Anti-Islamic and Counter-Terrorism operations and helping aided and supporting of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, the CAFGU militia forces and the U.S. Armed Forces to fought against the Islamic rebels and bandits of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other local criminal elements.
The 8th Infantry (Storm Trooper) Division, Philippine Army often conducts Internal Security Operations (ISO) in their Area of Responsibility (AOR) to dismantle and destroy the remaining guerrilla fronts of the Local Communist Movement (LCM) in order to attain peace and stability conducive to sustainable development in assisting the Philippine government in its socio-economic development projects; and assists the Philippine National Police curb criminality in the Visayas Region.
The following are the Brigades under the 8th Infantry Division:
The following are the Battalions under the 8th Infantry Division:
The following are the Support Units under the 8th Infantry Division:
On November 15, 2010, Botanist Leonard Co, forester Sofronio Cortez, and farmer Julius Borromeo, were working on a biodiversity project under the auspices of the Energy Development Corporation when they were killed in an incident involving nine members of the 19th Infantry Battalion in the forests of Kananga, Leyte. [2] Co, who was considered the foremost authority in ethnobotany in the Philippines at the time of his death, [3] was examining a tree when the shooting began, while Cortez and Borromeo helping him. [4]
Members of the 19IB, a unit under the 8ID, claimed that Co's group had been caught in the crossfire in a fight between their unit and the New People's Army, [5] [6] but this claim was challenged by numerous investigating groups, including the Philippine National Police [7] and the Philippines' Commission on Human Rights. [8] The Department of Justice eventually filed charges against the soldiers involved, and the case is currently in the courts. [9]
Philippine Army Reserve Command - all graduates of the Citizen Army Training and the Reserve Officer Training Corps are mandated to merge to as National Defense in case of a National Entrusion.
The Philippine Army (PA) is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare and as of 2021 had an estimated strength of 101,000 soldiers backed by 100,000 ready reserves. The service branch was established on December 21, 1935, as the Philippine Commonwealth Army. The Philippine Army has engaged in many conflicts including the ongoing Communist rebellion in the Philippines, the Moro conflict and, alongside other national military forces, in conflicts of international scope.
Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr. is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the National Security Adviser in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022. He was the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2006 to 2008 and Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 2005 to 2006 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. After his retirement from the military, he served in Arroyo's administration as the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and later as the head of the Presidential Management Staff.
The 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, nicknamed Tabak Division, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare. The division has been involved in combating terrorists in Southern Mindanao.
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The Southern Luzon Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the Bicol region but excludes the Palawan Islands. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency.
The Northern Luzon Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, including the Scarborough Shoal and the Benham Rise. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency.
The Western Mindanao Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the BARMM. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency. It is also one of the government organizations advocating the "Culture of Peace" in Mindanao.
The National Capital Regional Command, known officially as the NCRCom or NCRC, is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' former Wide Support Commands Combating Terrorism-Insurgency and act as support units to the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region in maintaining peace and order within Metro Manila. They also support SoLCom in anti-dissidence operations in Cavite and Laguna.
The 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Star Division, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit in Northern Luzon, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare.
The 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Kaugnáy Division, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit specializing in rapid deployment.
The Reserve Command is a major support command of the Philippine Army. It was created for the sole purpose of reserve force management, organization and Government Arsenal procurement.
The Visayas Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of all the visayas islands. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency. It was formerly known as the Central Command (CENTCOM) before being effectively renamed on 11 August 2021 based on the approved memorandum from the Department of National Defense.
The 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, also called the Agila Division, is one of the Philippine Army's infantry units in Mindanao.
The 104th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Sultan Brigade, is one of the brigades of the Philippine Army which is organic to its 1st Infantry Division. It is an infantry unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare.
The 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Diamond Division, is one of the Philippine Army's infantry units in Northern Mindanao.
The 3rd Infantry Division, also known as Spearhead Division is a unit of the Philippine Army, based at Camp Gen Macario Peralta Jr in Jamindan, Capiz, Philippines.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command, known officially as the AFP RESCOM or RESCOM, is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.
The 41st Infantry Division was a division of the Philippine Army under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
The 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, also called the Alakdan Division, is one of the Philippine Army's infantry units in Mindanao. Currently still forming, the Division is expected to complete its equipment and manpower requirements by 2022. It is the youngest of all the infantry divisions of the Army and will have 4,500 troops when fully formed.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team "Aegis", Philippine Army, is the Philippine Army's current primary combined arms and rapid deployment unit. It was formed out of a new concept that was among the lessons learned from the Battle of Marawi against terrorist forces in urban environment. It would also be the primary unit for territorial defense.