Merged: 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army

[Pachada]

Moderator's note: Related thread: All about the 10th ID

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AFP to divide SOUTHCOM into 2 commands, and Philippine Army to create 10th Infantry Division in Davao area(Ang lakas ni ADROTH !!! =):

Southcom split into two groups

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the split of the Southern Command, the largest unified command in the military, into two groups that will both spearhead the government’s all-out-war against the New People’s Army.

The split was recommended by former Armed Forces chief-of-staff Gen. Generoso Senga, who relinquished his post to Army Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

“We will divide the Southern Command into two unified commands for more effective troop management and control,” the President said.

“We will also create a new division in the Davao area. Gen. Senga recommended these reforms and I approved them without second thought.”

The new division headquarters that will be set up in southeastern Mindanao to fight local and international terrorists including the Jemaah Islamiya.

The President thanked the military for their loyalty to the chain of command.

“Your service in the cause of peace and stability deserves our deepest gratitude,” she said.

“Our military men and women are essential to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law that are so important to democracy.”

But the President reserved the highest accolade for Senga.

“I give Gen. Senga credit for containing then neutralizing and finally demolishing the infamous February coup,” she said.

“He has not only upheld the loyalty and professionalism of the Filipino soldier, but has shown that military justice works in an organization led by the great martial principles and values, courage, audacity, integrity, professionalism and decisiveness.”

Manila Standard , July 22, 2006
Joyce Pangco Pañares

[Pachada]

I wonder what the names of the 2 new mindanao commands will be?? in the 1970s, there were 2 commands also in mindanao: SOWESCOM - for sulu and zamboanga, and the CEMCOM - for Cotabato, davao.

There is a book about the mindanao fighting in the 1970s:
The day we nearly lost Mindanao: The CEMCOM story  by General Abat

During that time, the huge Cotabato plains, the rice granary of mindanao was nearly overran by 3,000 to 6,000 MNLF rebels. They were stopped near cotabato city by the Cotabato City police force led by Colonel Ahorro. This was the time when the Philippine Army and Marines was still a small force so that President Marcos ordered the mobilization of 30,000 world war 2 veterans in the cotabato area.(These veterans were still in their 50s, and still strong from years of farm work).
The city of Jolo was overran by 3,000 Tausog rebels of the MNLF except for Camp Asturias and Notre Dame College that was still in government hands. The Government counteroffensive was launched preceded by point-blank bombardment of the city of Jolo by two Philippine Navy patrol ships that leveled the city to the ground(ala Beirut). Its now known as "The burning of Jolo"

[Adroth]

Move the post about the Battle of Sibalu hill here: http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=4695.0  Great piece that deserved its own thread.

Does this mean that Task Force Davao and Task Force Comet will be dissolved?

Here comes another StarTracker change.

AFP to divide SOUTHCOM into 2 commands, and Philippine Army to create 10th Infantry Division in Davao area(Ang lakas ni ADROTH !!! =):

Dahil kay Davaofrancis yun. 

[philippinestoday]

Does this mean that Task Force Davao and Task Force Comet will be dissolved?

maybe..but a name change might be the course..making both task forces diffrent battalions...

its about time to add a new division in mindanao..4th infantry 'diamond' IMHO is spread thinly on its operating area.. the southeastern, easterns, and northeastern mindanao area is big enough to have another division set up...

so saan division HQ nila? davao city?

[Ventisei26]

I wonder what the names of the 2 new mindanao commands will be??

Probably Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), or better yet, Southwestern Command and Southeastern Command.

[Adroth]

Extracted from: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060810.htm&no=06

Meanwhile, the council adopted a resolution brought to the floor by San Isidro Mayor Tomas Abelita, expressing willingness of the province of Davao del Norte to house the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Lt Col Angel Dinsay, executive officer of the 401st Infantry Brigade, PA, bared of plans of the Armed Forces of the Philippines national headquarters to put up a 10th Infantry Division in the region to closely monitor the counter insurgency operations in the provinces of Davao currently placed under the area command of 4th Infantry Division.

“Davao provinces will be under the control of the 10th ID while the 4th ID will be concentrating in CARAGA Region, (provinces of) Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao areas,” Dinsay said.

In a separate interview, Dinsay said the PPOC resolution would not likely be considered by higher officials of AFP because the primary consideration in setting up the 10th ID “is presence of a structure” which it can readily use to start its operations on the ground.

Dinsay bared that AFP officials were looking at housing the 10th ID either at Camp Panacan or at a compound formerly occupied by the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) in Davao City.

But he gladly noted such willingness of PPOC to help AFP in its anti-insurgency campaign.

[philippinestoday]

Extracted from: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060810.htm&no=06

Meanwhile, the council adopted a resolution brought to the floor by San Isidro Mayor Tomas Abelita, expressing willingness of the province of Davao del Norte to house the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Lt Col Angel Dinsay, executive officer of the 401st Infantry Brigade, PA, bared of plans of the Armed Forces of the Philippines national headquarters to put up a 10th Infantry Division in the region to closely monitor the counter insurgency operations in the provinces of Davao currently placed under the area command of 4th Infantry Division.

“Davao provinces will be under the control of the 10th ID while the 4th ID will be concentrating in CARAGA Region, (provinces of) Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao areas,” Dinsay said.

So, the 10th ID is concentrated on the davao provinces only?.. Good...dugaya nila naka-gets sa situation dri oi.. dvo del norte has relative presence of npa, it includes also the comval area..oriental also has presence as well as rumors of some milf camps in the vicinity..davao city has npa problem as well, in the 3rd district, pacquibato district has npa presence their...and also in the outskirts of the toril area..rumored milf in that area has also surfaced a couple of years ago..but no confirmation..

Dinsay bared that AFP officials were looking at housing the 10th ID either at Camp Panacan or at a compound formerly occupied by the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) in Davao City.

the SPDA compund in mintal is quite small??..and i saw on the local news yesterday, a councilor or a representative (2nd district) i forgot...he said he does not want the HQ of the 10th ID to be based inside the city (poblacion) because it might send an impression to the foreigners that davao is a war torn area...might hurt the tourism industry..

why not base them somewhere near the vicinity of the airport and seaport area...probably the mandug area or the tibungco area...

[Red Justice]

As we can recall when the 701st Inf Brigade was transferred to Davao, it was announced also that the 7th ID HQ will be moved there as well. But since the ground has changed, we need to maintain 7ID in CL and create a new division there. Its a fact the COMVAL and the DAVAO areas have been made haven by the NPA and the MILF.

 

[Adroth]

As we can recall when the 701st Inf Brigade was transferred to Davao . . .

. . . and renamed the 604th, right sir?

[Red Justice]

I believe not, in the previous article the 301st became the 604th and the 701st became the 404th.

[Adroth]

I believe not, in the previous article the 301st became the 604th and the 701st became the 404th.

Roger that.

[Adroth]

Its official. The 10th ID is now based at the SPDA in Cataluna Pequeno. However the inauguration was at the Naval District HQ in Panacan. I wonder if they will eventually move there.

First CO is MGEN Ernesto Boac. 

Of course, the commies aren't happy. 

Troops build-up in city slammed
By Nelson C. Bagaforo and Ben O. Tesiorna

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2006/08/18/news/troops.build.up.in.city.slammed.html

MILITANTS staged Thursday a protest rally against what they called the troops build-up in Davao Region, following the activation of the Army's 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City.

While the newly created Army command was formally presented to the public during the activation ceremony inside Panacan naval headquarters, a number of protesters gathered outside, asking the government to stop "militarization of cities and the countryside."

Reports have it that the Armed Forces would make "some redeployment of troops from other parts of the country to Mindanao to fill up the new area command." It was not known how many troops would be involved.

"While cases of human rights violations continue to escalate with the deaths of ordinary civilians, activists, and journalists in the country, the Arroyo government and the military establishment unabashedly continue to pursue militarizing the cities and countryside," said Bayan-Southern Mindanao acting secretary general Ariel Casilao.

Bayan feared "more human rights violations and reprisals as military troops build-up remains as a top priority of the Arroyo government."

Casilao said, "For as long as poverty, inequity, social injustices, and a corrupt government continue to exist, more and more people will rise up and use constitutionally guaranteed rights to protest and the inherent right to rebel. No rebellion can be easily snuffed out by militarism."

Leading the activation ceremony was Philippine Army chief Rogelio Tolentino.

The Army's 10th ID is the latest addition to a big number of Army contingents in Southeastern Mindanao.

Its creation followed after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced last month the division of the Zamboanga City-based Southern Command (Southcom), which is the military's biggest regional command that comprises about 60 percent, or 70,000 troops, of the 120,000-strong Armed Forces.

The 10th ID is headed by Major General Ernesto Boac, former commander of the Army Support Command. His area of responsibility will be Southeastern Mindanao.

They are now stationed at the SPDA complex in Catalunan Pequeno in Davao City.

In a major move aimed at removing the two biggest threats to the country's security, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. announced last month the split of Southcom into two forces: One would go after the New People's Army (NPA) and the other would hunt down the Abu Sayyaf and their allies.

He said Southcom's area of responsibility would be divided between eastern Mindanao and western Mindanao. The Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist groups are generally based in western Mindanao while the NPA rebels are generally concentrated in the east.

"Southcom is characterized by the strong presence of secessionist movements, which are now under control, but we have some terrorists that we have to address. We will divide Southcom for better control and to put more focus in the fight against the communist terrorists in the eastern part of Mindanao," Esperon said.

"One unified command will cover the western area, and then another area will focus on the communist terrorists, so the split could be east and west," he added.

Southcom is currently headed by Lieutenant General Gabriel Habacon.

[40niner_com]

I believe not, in the previous article the 301st became the 604th and the 701st became the 404th.

Would this mean that a few of the existing Inf Bde of 4ID and 6ID will be re-assigned to 10ID in being the new mother unit in the AOR?  I believe there are actually no additional operation units / troops being activated or organized.

A double-edge sword in terms of efficiency -- more managers versus less overhead. 

[philippinestoday]

is their any info on what they are going to do with task force davao? would it be absorbed or redeployed somewhere? and would the 1st ready reserve be included as part of the 10thID? Ohh and another thing, how about the engineering battallion in mintal (san gabriel??)?? and those other units operating currently in davao provinces?

[Adroth]

Would this mean that a few of the existing Inf Bde of 4ID and 6ID will be re-assigned to 10ID in being the new mother unit in the AOR?  I believe there are actually no additional operation units / troops being activated or organized.

A double-edge sword in terms of efficiency -- more managers versus less overhead. 

Good point 40niner.

As it currently stands, the 4th and 6th ID have four infantry brigades each. If both IDs lose one infantry brigade each in favor of the the 10th, that would bring the 10th on equal footing with the 9th ID which appears to only have two infantry brigades under its control. That would also bring the 4th and 6th down to the strength of the 3rd and 5th IDs (note, this is only based on info that I could find for StarTracker -- I could be waaaay off).

One could reasonably assume that Oplan Bantay Laya, which I believe is what the current COIN plan is called now, will rely heavily on the deployment of territorial troops -- CAFGUs -- to hold terrain on behalf of the AFP. That would free the regular units from occupation duty, and allow them to move to wherever they are needed -- as rapid reaction forces. So having a full compliment of four Inf Bdes might not be part of the plan.

Doing things this way would also ease the budgetary burden, since the CAFGU aren't really paid salaries. They are merely given allowances, and are actually free to make a living aside from taking up arms on behalf of the government. I only hope the territorials are led properly, otherwise those weapons could be used for their own ends instead of fighting the commies.

is their any info on what they are going to do with task force davao? would it be absorbed or redeployed somewhere? and would the 1st ready reserve be included as part of the 10thID? Ohh and another thing, how about the engineering battallion in mintal (san gabriel??)?? and those other units operating currently in davao provinces?

Another good question. Would you know if TFD and the engineering unit are currently under a particular ID? The same question could be asked with regard to Task Force Zamboanga.

AFAIK, Task Forces are completely independent entities. I could be wrong, but I'm under the impression that they report directly to either the unified command, or GHQ. See About AFP Task Forces

I could see the point behind TFs because of the size of SOUTHCOM. But with the renewed focus, IMHO it might be better to turn them into liason offices to facilitate communication between the mayor's office and the IDs, and have their troops returned to the regular units. (. . . or is this already how they are operating now?)