H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

21 July 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

8ID Beefs Up with 122 Newly Enlisted Soldiers

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar –A total of 122 newly enlisted personnel join the ranks of the 8^th Infantry Division today at 9am in a symbolic ceremony that was held at the Camp Lukban Grandstand. The highlight of the affair was the ceremonial entrustment of firearms to the soldiers by representatives from both the public and private sector notable among which is Honourable Mel Senen Sarmiento, Representative of First District of Samar. The entrustment ceremony symbolizes the critical role of civilian authority in the performance of the soldier’s duty.

In a statement made by Major General Mario Chan, chief of the Army in Eastern Visayas, the primary duty of the new soldiers is to be instruments for peace and development.

“With these reasonable force that adds to the 8ID troopers, rest assure that our people can expect more than what we are doing for the sake of peace and development in this part of the country,” General Chan says.

Likewise, Congressman Sarmiento said in his message that the soldiers of 8^th Infantry Division have continuously manifested devotion to duty and to the Constitution.

“With these soldiers, I am optimistic that our problems against insurgency will surely come to an end by doing each and every one of us their part and protecting the human rights of the people for the ultimate attainment of peace not only in Samar but also in the whole region,” says Congressman Sarmiento.

The activity was also graced by the Vice Mayor of Catbalogan Hon. Art Gabon, City Councilor Hon. Stephanie Tan-Uy, Calbayog Bishop Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez, and Rev. Fr. Dionesio Calderon. Two civilian volunteer communications groups namely the REACT and KABALIKAT Civicom complemented the affair along relatives and friends of new soldiers. ###

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19 Jul 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

8ID inter-color sport fest

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – The 8^th Infantry Division, Philippine Army opened the 23^rd 8ID Founding Anniversary Inter Color Sport Fest 2011 held at 8ID Grandstand with Major General Mario F Chan, Commander, 8ID, as the keynote speaker during the ceremony.

The soldiers coming from the different units of 8ID together with the Team Navy participated the event. Right after the opening ceremony they started the games and played according to team color.

In his message, Maj Gen Chan urged all soldiers to participate the games in playing different games in order to more improve their competency. By focusing their mind, they will to learn the Army’s core competencies.

Through this activity, the camaraderie among soldiers will be strengthened and the spirit of sportsmanship will also be ingrained in their minds.

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

21 July, 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

Road project in Samar blasted with UN-banned landmines to hurt 8ID troops

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar – Headquarters-bound troops who recently performed as area security in support of the ground breaking ceremony for the Gandara-Matuguinao road development project held yesterday were harassed at about 11:30 p.m. last night along the way by a communist-inspired criminal group at the vicinity of Barangay Canligues and Concepcion, both of Paranas, Samar.

Two UN-banned landmines usually employed by the communist-inspired criminal group detonated along the road that caused the death of one soldier, the wounding of six others, and damage to a portion of a currently developed road. The wounded soldiers were immediately evacuated and are now under treatment at Saint Paul’s Hospital in Tacloban City. Responding troops in the area are now making sure that the traffic along the route will not be hampered because of the incident.

The incident is an expected reaction of the communist-inspired criminal group against the efforts of the 8^th Infantry Division who has committed to support road development and other related projects in the Region at all cost. The road where the incident occurred is among the roads that the 8ID supports for development. ###

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

20 July 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

Gandara-Matuguinao Road Project Ground breaking ceremony

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City –After conceptualizing Gandara-Matuguinao Road Project, the simple yet meaningful Ground Breaking Ceremony was held at Brgy. Canhumawid, Gandara Samar at around 10:30 this morning.

This road rehabilitation is part of the project proposals of the Command to the different Local Chief Executives pushed thru the Regional Development Council, Regional Peace and Office Council and Provincial Peace and Order Council. The project is a 3.7 km road rehabilitation to be undertaken by 546^th Engineering Construction Battalion, 53^rd Engineering Brigade costing about 2.1 million funded by the Provincial Government of Samar. The ceremony was spearheaded by the Commander of 8^th Infantry Division Major General Mario F Chan together with Honorable Governor Sharee Ann T Delos Santos, Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez, Bishop of Calbayog Diocese; Rev. Fr. Erwin Rodriguez, Parish Priest of Matuguinao; Police Senior Superintendent Ronald Cortiz Macapagal, the Provincial Director of Samar; Commanding Officer of 801 Brigade Commander Colonel Romeo Labrador other military officers, local officials and media personnel were present to witness the realization of the road project that will be completed by 26 September 2011. Right after the ceremony, the activity was culminated with press conference.

“Hindi sa pamamagitan ng bala matatapos ang insurhensiya sa Samar, matatapos natin to sa pagbibigay ng tulay, maayos na daan at iba pang infrastraktura para matugunan ang pangunahing pangangailangan ng mamamayan ng Samar” Major General Chan says.

Meanwhile, Governor Delos Santos expressed her gratitude to the Commanding General of 8ID and encouraged the people of Gandara and Matuguinao to be responsible in order to achieve peace and order in the area.###

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

18 July, 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

Top performing battalion refresh

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City –After serving the people of Eastern Samar, the 14^th Infantry Battalion under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Hermilo Demafiles held their opening ceremony for their scheduled retraining at Brgy. Erenas, San Jorge, Western Samar at 11:20 this morning.

The ceremony was spearheaded by the Commander of 8^th Infantry Division Major General Mario F Chan together with the government officials of the Municipal of San Jorge, Samar headed by Mayor Nancy B Grey as Guest. The purpose of this retraining is to improve the combat capability of unit, enhance the skills of the soldiers and refurbish the units personnel strength, signal, mobility and firepower capabilities. While the Battalion has been the top performer in the whole Philippine Army the retraining will serve as time for relaxation and reinvigorates in time for the units more crucial mission after the retraining.

Mayor Grey expressed her warm welcome to the 14IB and extended her whole hearted support for the retraining of the battalion. She also guaranteed the commitment for a harmonious relationship with the government troops in serving the people in Samar.

Major General Chan stressed that the 14IB is composed of well-disciplined soldiers. “Good manners and right conduct is emphasized and they will not do stupid things in the area of Samar. Everybody is disciplined” Chan says. He is optimistic that after the Battalion retraining of the unit, they will provide the “winning blows” in our quest for a just and lasting peace in the region. ###

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

14 July, 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

43rd Infantry Battalion Back to Samar

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City –After three years stay in Lanao Del Sur the troops of the 43^rd Infantry Battalion arrived at pier 2 of Catbalogan City yesterday. The soldiers of the 8^th Infantry (Storm troopers) Division joint welcomed their arrivals and also a send off ceremony was held for the troops of 3^rd Scout Ranger Company and 1^st Light Armor Platoon.

The occasion was headed by the commanding officer of the 8ID Major General Mario F Chan together with City Councilor Hon. Stephanie Uy as the Guest of Honour. Hon. Uy expressed her warm welcome to the 43IB under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Madarang and subsequently extended her deepest gratitude to the departing troops of 3SRC and 1LAP for their excellent performance in serving the people of Region 8.

“Be guided with the maxim that as soldiers we are here to serve and not to be served” says MGEN Chan. With additional troops from Lanao del Sur, the 8ID is more than enough to continue its mandated mission.

On the other hand, several families and friends of the soldiers sympathized on the occasion and conveyed their gratefulness for the coming back of 43IB in Samar Island.###

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

46^TH INFANTRY (PEACEMAKERS) BATTALION

8^TH INFANTRY (STORM TROOPERS) DIVISION, PHILIPPINE ARMY

Brgy Talisawa, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Contact: Major Abdila A Mangoramas (Inf) PA July 13, 2011

Civil-Military Operations Officer

Cell Phone: 0908-236-9040

Email: cmo_46ib8id@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

AFP awards 80-unit housing project to beneficiaries of killed-in-action soldiers

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat---The 80-unit housing project under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Housing Program was formally awarded to the beneficiaries of killed-in-action (KIA) soldiers in a turn over ceremony held Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Villa Celena, Brgy. Kalawag 1, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

In his message, Vice-Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo B Mapagu, the Guest of Honor and Speaker expressed his sympathy to the dependents of the fallen soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He stressed that the government intends to provide at least a decent dwelling aside from the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) for the families of soldiers who died serving the Filipino nation. Likewise he talks on generating more housing projects for soldiers in active military service.

“I am delighted that this 80-unit housing project is finally turned over to the beneficiaries here in Mindanao area. I know, no one wants to have these houses if only to take the lives of their loved ones away from them. But I urge everyone to take good care of these houses and consider it as existing testimony of our soldiers’ heroism.”, General Mapagu deliberately stressed.

Hon. Diosdado G. Pallasigue, Municipal Mayor of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat commends Engr. Rolindo Delfin, the land owner, Ms. Janice Key La Vega of the JK Golden City Builders and the AFP leadership under Gen. Eduardo S Oban for being part of the development of Isulan. He said that the Local Government of Isulan will look into providing livelihood and technical trainings to the beneficiaries for them to become productive members of Isulan community.

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp Genaral Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12 July 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

8ID sustains effort on Gandara-Matuguinao Road Project

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar – Yesterday, a lunch meeting attended by different stakeholders of Samar held at the Ciriaco Hotel, Calbayog City to discuss the Incoming Ground Breaking Ceremony of the Gandara to Matuguinao road project.

The gathering was initiated by the 8^th Infantry Division Commander Major General Mario F Chan, together with his Assistant Division Commander Colonel Virgilio M Espeneli and colleagues Colonel Peñafiel commander of the 34^th Infantry Battalion, Colonel Quila of the 546^th Engineering Battalion, and Police Senior Superintendent Arnold C Macapagal. Other participants from SIPPAD, DPWH, and the Media in the person of Ms. Emy Bonifacio, District Engineer Virgilio Eduarte, and Ms. Gina Ragudo of Samar news respectively, were also present.

The purpose of the gathering is to ensure proper coordination and participation of all the stakeholders in Samar necessary for the realization of the Road Project. Because the Gandara-Matuguinao road project will be a combine effort of the DPWH and the 546^th Engineering Battalion it is estimated that the road will be passable by September, three months earlier than the expected time