The Philippine Army declared its readiness to fight the remnants of the communist terrorist group (CTG) hiding in Bukidnon after ending their 3-month Battalion of Excellence (BOE) Training program.
Troops from the 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB) under the operational control of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (4ID) finished the program at the 4th Division Training School (4DTS) in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on April 11.
Major General Potenciano Camba, the Army Chief of Staff, was the guest of honor and speaker in the ceremony.
He said that the retrained battalion will play a significant role in the 4ID’s campaign in dismantling remaining CTG units in their area and finally end the local communist armed conflict.
The BOE Training Program is the centerpiece of the Philippine Army’s capability development, designed to improve the operational performance and combat capability of an infantry battalion to perform full-spectrum tasks and operations across different areas where the unit will operate.
The training started January 28, participated in by all troops of 88IB led by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Dema-Ala.
During the training, troops underwent different lectures and exercises that equipped them to continue performing with excellence and the highest standards of maintaining peace and development in their AOR, Dema-Ala said.
Major General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, Commander of 4ID, lauded the Training Directorate led by the Training and Doctrine Command, the 4DTS, and the 88IB troops “for exerting extraordinary efforts to attain the training objectives.”
He said this BOE is a crucial step in enhancing the troops’ capabilities as the Division is intensifying its campaign to eliminate the CTG threat, especially in the province of Bukidnon.