7ID welcomes home Mindanao-honed troops

The 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division (7ID) welcomes back the 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade and the 56th Infantry (Tatag) Battalion after their long and highly successful deployment in Mindanao.

The homecoming of the 701st Brigade and the 56th IB reinforces the operational posture of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM).

7ID Commander Major General Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte PA welcomed the return of the combat-tested units, noting that their redeployment significantly enhances the division’s capability to protect communities, sustain peace gains, and bolster territorial defense under NOLCOM.

During their operational control under the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, the 701st Infantry Brigade dismantled six NPA Guerrilla Fronts, two Pulang Bagani Commands, one Sub-Regional Sentro de Grabidad, and two Sub-Regional Committees — key accomplishments that contributed to the declaration of an insurgency-free Davao Region.

The 56th Infantry Battalion likewise dismantled one Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit and one Sub-Regional Committee, while securing the critical areas of Talaingod and the Pantaron Range. Their sustained efforts denied the resurgence of communist terrorist elements and enabled the Tatag IP Scholarship Program, benefiting Indigenous communities in far-flung areas.

Pasamonte expressed gratitude for the unwavering dedication of both units and emphasized that their Mindanao-honed experience will further elevate the Kaugnay Division’s readiness, responsiveness, and overall security posture across Northern and Central Luzon.

As the 701Bde and 56IB reintegrate into the Kaugnay fold, the AFP remains steadfast in its commitment to preventing the resurgence of Communist Terrorist Groups and advancing inclusive peace and development across the region.