8th Infantry Division (Philippines)

Eight Infantry Division
Eight Infantry Division
	Coat of Arms of the 8ID
Active	August 1, 1988 - Present
Country	Philippines
Branch	Philippine Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Conventional Warfare, Anti-Guerrilla Operations
Size	3 Brigades, 10 Battalions. Total is 5000+ soldiers
Part of	Under the Philippine Army
Garrison/HQ	Camp General Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar
Nickname(s)	Storm Trooper Division
Mascot(s)	8 pointed star
Anniversaries	August 1
Engagements	Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines; Anti-guerilla operations against the NPA and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Commanders
Current; commander	MGen Mario F Chan AFP
Notable; commanders	Bgen Isagani T Delos Santos AFP, BGen Romulo F Yap AFP, BGen Rufo A De Veyra AFP, BGen Romeo Dominguez AFP, BGen Glenn Rabonza AFP, BGen Bonifacio Ramos AFP, BGen Rodrigo Maclang AFP
Insignia
Unit Patch	8ID Storm Trooper Badge

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, combating Local Communist Units, and terrorists.

History

Untold History

During the Japanese Occupation in World War II, the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Commonwealth Army was reconstituted by unsurrendered USAFFE officers who organized guerilla units under the 8th Military District after their American Officers surrendered to the Japanese after the Battle of Bataan in 1942. The Division's Area of Operations were the Provinces of Cebu and Bohol in Central Visayas and they were tasked by General Douglas MacArthur to combat the Japanese Imperial Army & Imperial Japanese Navy whom they fought using guerilla tactics starting 1942 until the United States returned to Liberate the Philippines in 1944 when more supplies arrived that allowed more company & regimental-sized operations to be conducted against the Japanese up to the end of the war.

During the Japanese Occupation of Cebu, the guerillas, who were the also the soldiers and officers of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and its subordinate units the 82nd, 85th, 86th and 87th Infantry Regiments fought the Japanese in the Battle of Guila-Guila in Compostela, Cebu on March 5,1943. This battle, commanded by Major Fabian M. Sanchez, resulted in numerous casualties to the Japanese Imperial Army and best estimates were ten (10) truckloads of dead Japanese soldiers versus one (1)Filipino killed.

During the Battle for the Liberation of Cebu in 1945, guerillas organized as the soldiers and officers of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and it subordinate units including the 81st, 82nd, 85th, 86th and 87th Infantry Regiments and soldiers of the Americal Division conducted and fought combat operations against the Japanese under General Sosaku Suzuki and they recaptured and liberated Cebu. They fought in the Northern Cebu Campaign, Southern Cebu Campaign, the Invasion of Liloan, the Invasion of Mandaue, the Invasion of Cebu City, Battle of Daanbantayan, Battle of Toledo and the Battle of Bantayan.

In the island Province of Bohol starting in 1945, guerillas organized as the soldiers and officers of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and it subordinate units including the 81st, 83rd, 85th and 86th Infantry Regiments, the PC 8th Infantry Regiment and soldiers of the Americal Division liberated Bohol from the Japanese forces, again, under General Sosaku Suzuki.

Mission

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 guerilla 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.

Lineage of Commanding Officers

Brigadier General Isagani T. Delos Santos AFP (26 May 1986–31 March 1988)
Brigadier General Federico E. Ruiz Jr AFP (31 March 1988–27 March 1990)
Brigadier General Romulo F. Yap AFP (27 March 1990–10 January 1992)
Brigadier General Ruperto A. Ambil AFP (10 June 1992–12 April 1994)
Brigadier General Danilo P. Olay AFP (12 March 1994–15 March 1996)
Brigadier General Romeo B. Tarrayo AFP (4 April 1996–15 January 1998)
Major General Arturo B. Carrillo AFP (15 January 1998–6 November 1999)
Major General Rufo A. De Veyra AFP (6 November 1999–7 July 2001)
Major General Romeo B. Dominguez AFP (6 July 2001–10 February 2003)
Major General Glenn J. Rabonza AFP (10 February 2003–4 January 2005)
Brigadier General Bonifacio B. Ramos AFP (4 January 2005–10 February 2005)
Major General Jovito S. Palparan Jr. AFP (10 February 2005–25 August 2005)
Major General Bonifacio B. Ramos AFP (25 August 2005–29 July 2006)
Brigadier General Randy S. Dauz AFP (29 July 2006–16 August 2006)
Major General Rodrigo F. Maclang AFP (16 August 2006–15 January 2007)
Major General Armando L. Cunanan AFP (15 January 2007–19 May 2008)
Brigadier General Allan Ragpala AFP (19 May 2008–4 June 2008)
Brigadier General Arthur I. Tabaquero AFP (4 June 2008–24 August 2010)
Major General Mario F. Chan AFP (24 August 2010–TO DATE)

Subordinate Units

Operations

Anti-guerrilla operations against the New People's Army
Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines.

References

[1]