8ID Celebrates 24th Founding Anniversary

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City –  The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army will celebrate its 24th Founding Anniversary on August 3, 2012 with the Theme: “Team 8ID: Kaakibat ng Mamamayan sa Bayanihan Tungo sa  Mapayapa at  Maunlad  na Bayan”. This year’s celebration will usher a new chapter to strengthen the Command’s security obligations and total commitment to the region’s progress and development through “Bayanihan”  projects.            

            LTGEN Ralph A. Villanueva AFP, Commander, Central Command, AFP will be the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the Anniversary Celebration on August 3, 2012.

            Series of activities have been lined up leading to the actual day of the celebration. The week-long celebration kicked-off with the conduct of a Squad Challenge   from July 24 to 26, 2012. The different military stakes were participated-in by representative from the different line units of the Division. This will be followed by a 2-day Photo Static Display from July 27 to 28, 2012 that will highlight the different 8ID’s accomplishments through “Bayanihan” at the Provincial Capitol ground in Catbalogan City, Samar. A Badminton Tournament from July 29 to 31, 2012 will also be held at the Wellness Center of Camp Vicente Lukban.  One of the highlights of the affair will be the awarding of medals and presentation of plaques to outstanding unit, and deserving officers and men who excelled in all fields of operations. Other activities include the Raffle Bonanza, wherein the net proceeds will benefit the 8ID Kawal Foundation. Moreover, Stormtroopers Modern Dance Contest will be showcased as military personnel and their dependents can express their talents in dancing.

            Finally, this year’s anniversary celebration will highlight the heroic deeds of the men and women of the Stormtroopers division in attaining peace and development in Eastern Visayas Region.

8ID trains PA recruits for peace an development is Samar

 Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, PA formally accepted 95 young recruits into the ranks of the Philippine Army as they took their oath of duty and service to the country in a simple opening ceremony of Candidate Soldier Course (CS) class 299-2012 on July 9, 2012 at the 8ID Headquarters in Catbalogan, City.

           The ceremony was graced by Colonel Virgilio M Espineli the Assistant Division Commander of 8ID, in the presence of the candidate soldiers’ families, Officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the command.  

            The CS training will be a 5-month course in which the Army trainees will be transformed into Peace and development advocates, and will assist the peace and development efforts of 8ID in line with the implementation of Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan in the area. Upon completion of the training, the trainees will be enlisted into the Philippine Army with the rank of Private.

           Colonel Espineli in his remarks challenged the trainors to train the new recruits to become good and professional soldiers. “I congratulate each and every one of you for volunteering to join this noble profession of arms and for successfully passing all the requirements and screening for the Candidate Soldier Course Class 299-2012”, Espineli said.

           The candidate soldiers came from the different provinces all over the country. 68% are from the Visayas while 7% and 20% are from Luzon and Mindanao respectively. The youngest trainee is 18 years old and the oldest is 24 years of age. For educational profile, the recruits are composed of one (1) registered nurse, one (1) license criminologist, 17 college graduates, 26 college level, 26 vocational graduates and 24 high school graduates with special skills.

            The training of the new recruits will be guided by the guidance issued by MGen Gerardo T Layug AFP, Commander 8ID, PA,  that every soldier will not only be trained to fight and defend the country, but more importantly to become human rights advocates and ardent catalyst of peace and development in the countryside.

Two Communist Terrorists capture, Recovers Firearms

          Catbalogan City, Samar- Elements from Charlie Company, 52nd Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division led by Cpl Armando M Carcellar together with the Philippine National Police of Daram Samar led by PSI Jonathan R Momo conducted joint operation to validate the information of the presence of armed group hiding in a safe house at the tri-boundaries of Brgy Cabugao, Brgy Cagbubuto and Brgy Parasan all of Daram, Samar captured two communist terrorists last June 22, 2012 at around 12: 15 in the afternoon.

 

      The two captured rebel were Michael Bolito Manicani, 21 years old, resident of Brgy San Roque, Villareal, Samar, and Eleonor Chavez Palacio, 36 years old from Brgy Ugioa, Jaro, Leyte.

 

         The government troops were also able to recover the following:One (1) Ingram serial Nr 226617; with one (1) mag loaded with twenty-three (23) live ammo; one (1) cal .45 pistol (Llama) serial Nr 710401462300 with four (4) Mags loaded with twenty-eight (28) live ammos, two (2) pcs Hand Grenade , one (1) pc IED , fifteen (15) mtrs firing wire, one (1) blasting cap and valuable subversive documents with high Intelligence value.

 

         On June 23, 2012, the two captured CT’s were transported to Bulwagan, Catbalogan City, Samar for filing of case under R.A 8294/ R.A 9516 or Illegal position of FA’s, Ammos and explosive.

 

          BGen Gerardo T Layug, Commander of 8ID lauded the efforts of 52IB as well as the PNP for the job well done and for always being alert.  The success of the operations showed the close partnership of AFP and the Philippine National Police in ensuring peace and security is maintained in the region.

 

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