Unit History

The 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion tracers its humble beginning from the heart of the land of promise during the upgrading of the then 12th Infantry Brigade (SEPARATE) into now the regular 6th Infantry (KAMPILAN) Division on 24 October 1987. The 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion was one of its pioneer Battalions.

In the early 90’s, when Higher Headquarters saw the urgent need to create a unit purposely to develop, organize, train and provide administrative command and control to CAFGU active auxiliaries as the immediate residual result of the successful initial campaign of “LAMBAT BITAG” the conversion of the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion into 12th Special Forces Battalion of the Special Forces Regiment (AIRBORNE) took effect on 01 January 1992.

Pursuant to Section 1 and II of General Orders Number 146 Headquarters Philippine Army dated 06 March 2003, the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion was activated and refilled, and was subsequently placed assigned to the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. Effective 01 April 2003, the reborn unit officially became organic unit of the 8th Infantry (STORM TROOPERS) Division. All its personnel and equipment came from the existing resources of the Division.

From 01 April to 21 August 2003, MAJOR FEDERICO SP OLIVA (CAV) PA was the Officer – In – Charge of the Battalion. With him were six (6) Officers, namely: ILT JONATHAN C URSAL (INF) PA, 2LT EUGENE M MUYCO (INF) PA, 2LT JOEL P PALAGOT (INF) PA, 2LT ROMEO L ANDRES (INF) PA, 2LT RUBY B DELLANO (INF) PA AND 2LT ROBERTO T MORALLOS (INF) PA and two hundred (200) Enlisted Personnel.

On 21 April 2003, from Headquarters, 8th Infantry (Storm Troopers) Division, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar, the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battlion move to Sitio Cantaba Brgy Caticugan, Sta Rita, Western Samar. On 16 June 2003, one Hundred Twenty Two (122) graduates of Candidate Soldiers Course (CSC) Class 51 were assigned to the Battalion. From 16 July to 20 August 2003, the Battalion underwent one (1) month Organizational and Combat Readiness Training.

On 21 August 2003, LIEUTENANT COLONEL MANUEL FELINO V RAMOS GSC (CAV) PA, took over as the first Battalion Commander. The Battalion received its first marching order on 10 October 2003 – to clear the affected Barangays of Carigara, Leyte from CPP/ NPA/NDF influence.

Following this Marching Order, on 15 October 2003, the Battalion moved from Sitio Cantaba, Brgy Cati,cugan, Sta Rita, Western Samar to Brgy Calapi, Carigara Leyte and was placed OPCON to 802nd Infantry Brigade, 8ID, PA. The unit’s mission was to conduct internal security (ISO) in the area seven (7) Barangays from CTM influence by destroying its alpha /Deyek platoons and political infrastructure (IN SECCOM 1 and 2) in order to restore peace and order in the area conducive to economic development
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On 21 December 2003, the unit organized a task force that participated in the conduct of Disaster Rescue and Relief Operations at the flash flood and land slide affected Brgys of Liloan, San Francisco and San Ricardo, all of Southern Leyte from 22 – 26 December 2003. The unit was also utilized as a security force during the 24 December 2003 visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.

On 21 February 2004, the unit underwent the Battalion re-training and ended on 29 February 2004. After five (5) months and fifteen (15) days of stay at Brgy Macalpi, Carigara, Leyte the unit was relocated at Brgy Lunita, La Paz, Leyte on 01 April 2004 to continue internalo security operation (ISO). While at said place, the unit underwent the Battalion Orientation Training from 02 – 16 June 2004.

On 05 August 2004, the unit moved again from present location to Brgy Villa Aurora, Basey, Western Samar to conduct Internal Security Operation (ISO) as Main Effort (ME) in order to neutralize CT forces and secure SOT teams in the conduct of massive SOT operations at Southern Samar front 1 (SSF 1). The unit was placed OPCON to 801st Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.

For just two (2) months at Brgy Villa Aurora, Basey, Western Samar, as the 8ID and CENTCOM RDF Battalion, was tasked to move from Samar Island to Bohol. On 04 October 2004, the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion moved from Samar Island, on board a C-130 Tacloban City airport (Leyte), landed in Tagbilaran City, Bohol and temporarily housed its personnel at Camp Dagohoy, ARESCOM, PA, Tagbilaran City. The 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion was placed OPCON to 302 Infantry (ACHIEVER) Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army and replaced the 6th Special Forces Battalion. The units mission was to conduct internal security operations (ISO) to neutralize and dismantle the CPP/NPA/NDF Politico-Military Structure of F1 and F7 thru sustained combat and SOT operations NLT 01 June 2005 in order to establish a secured environment conducive to growth and development in the province of Bohol.

On 06 October 2004, the unit completed its relief in place operations with the 6th Special Forces Battalion at Brgy Riverside, Bilar, Bohol. The unit then started its campaign to confront the insurgency problem in the South Western of Boholl province.

On 18 October 2004, the unit launched its first Battalion operation in the province of Bohol. During the stay in Bohol Island, the unit had conducted eleven (11) Battalion – size operations, twelve Company – size operations, twenty eight (28) Platoon – size operations, and two hundred thirteen (213) small size operations. The unit also cleared ten (10) Barangays through SOT operations. Gradually, the unit earned the respect and admiration of the local populace and local government officials through the discipline demonstrated by the personnel. With this, the place and order council (PPOC) of the province opposed the pullout of 46th Infantry Battalion in Bohol, as published in the local newspaper: “THE BOHOL CHRONICLE” dated Sunday, May 15, 2005.

After its eight months of successful insurgency campaign in the Island if Bohol, the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion was again tasked to return to the 8th Infantry (STORM TROOPERS) Division, Philippine Army AOR. On board two (2) Naval Vessels, the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion, left Bohol Island on 15 June 2005, on 17 June 2005, the unit docked at the port of Catbalogan, Samr and was received by no less than the Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, MGEN JOVITO S PALPARAN JR AFP. Initially, the unit temporarily encamped at HID, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar.

On 21 June 2005, the unit launched its first Battalion operations at Paranas – Motiong – San Jose De Buan Complex, WSamar.

After the operation, the unit moved from H8ID to Basey, WSamar and established its headquarters at Brgy Balante, Basey, WSamar. The unit’s mission was to conduct internal operations (ISO) in the municipalities of Basey, Sta Rita and Marabut, all of Western Samar to destroy the armed guerillas and dismantle the political infrastructure of SSF2 of EVRPC in order to reduce the insurgency in Basam Complex to significant level.

On 11 August 2005, the unit started its SOT operations, covering twenty (20) affected barangays of Basey.

On 19 August 2005, LTC MANUEL FELINO V RAMOS GSC (CAV) PA was relieved as the Battalion Commander of the 46th Infantry (PEACE MAKERS) Battalion and was replaced by LTC ARTURO S PASCUA INF (GSC) PA.