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Topnotch 42IB undergoes retraining to enhance capabilities
By John Mark Escandor

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur, July 2 (PNA) -- The 42nd Infantry (Tagapagtanggol) Battalion has started retraining of its personnel with opening ceremonies on Wednesday at the parade grounds of the 9th Infantry Division here.

The ceremony was graced by Maj. Gen. Yerson E. Depayso, 9ID commander, as the keynote speaker to formally welcome the brave and gallant warriors of the 42IB under the command of Lt. Col. Joselito P. Pastrana, battalion commander, according to Mardjorie Paimela Panesa, division spokesperson.

Tracing the humble beginning of 42IB, Panesa said, it was organized under the 2nd Infantry Division on March 2, 1977 pursuant to Section 1, General Order Number 77, Headquarters Philippine Army, dated March 9, 1977.

It was first deployed in the Quezon-Bicol Zone but before the end of year 1977, the battalion was redeployed in Davao del Sur where it operated in many provinces of Mindanao, confronting the southern Philippines’ secessionist groups.

When the battalion was recalled to Luzon on April 19, 1982, it was accorded with a Heroes’ Welcome at Headquarters Philippine Army, Fort Bonifacio, for its remarkable achievements.

In the same year, the unit was redeployed in Quezon-Bicol Zone.

On Dec. 29, 1991, the unit was transferred at Camp Busig-on, Barangay Tulay na Lupa, Labo, Camarines Norte, with the whole province of Camarines Norte and Sipocot, Camarines Sur as its area of operation.

In 2000, when the 9th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was activated, the battalion was placed under its operational control, with Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte as its area of operation.

In 2002, the 9th Infantry Division was activated with the entire Bicol Region as its area of responsibility and placed the battalion as one of its operating units under the 902nd Infantry Brigade.

The battalion was then relocated in Barangay Mabalodbalod, Tigaon, Camarines Sur.

Its area of operation covered Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.

In 2005, its area of operation was again realigned after the 65th Infantry Battalion assumed responsibility over Catanduanes province.

The 42IB was adjudged as the Best Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division and the Best in Civil-Military Operation in the entire Philippine Army for the year 2006.

The unit achieved numerous accomplishments and once again adjudged as the best battalion of 9ID for the third quarter of Calendar Year 2009.

It was also adjudged as the Top Four Battalions in the whole Philippine Army of 2010.

In 2012, the battalion was tasked to clear the 1st, 2nd and 5th Districts of Camarines Sur by way of Bayanihan Team Activities.

This year, the normalization of Camarines Sur was realized as manifested by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding declaring the province as Conflict Manageable and Ready for Further Development last May 25, 2015 between the Provincial Government Unit and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The 42IB will undergo two months of retraining in order to enhance its operational readiness, develop unit cohesion, fighting spirit and combat performance of the troops and improve core competencies and functional capabilities.

During the two-month retraining, the area of responsibility of the 42IB is temporarily taken over by the Task Group “Cam Sur” composed of one company from HHSBn, 91st Division Reconnaissance Company, 92nd CMO Coy and 92nd Division Reconnaissance Company which will be under the command of Col. Ferozaldo Paul T. Regencia as Task Group commander, concurrent to his designation as deputy brigade commander of 902nd Infantry Brigade.(PNA)

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