The Charlie (Wildcats) Company, 78IB, 3ID, PA was activated on 01 Jan 91 pursuant to GO Nr 23, H78IB, 3ID, PA dtd 30 Dec 90. Originally, the Company was the youngest among the three line companies of 78IB, 3ID PA. The unit was composed of a hundred able bodied officers and enlisted personnel who were first stationed at Hda Tranquilino, Bgy Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros. Occidental and was primarily tasked to secure the whole San Carlos City.
The unit then initiated the conduct of “RIGODON” type of operation to preempt any violent actions of the DT’s and was followed by Civil Military Operation that effectively won the hearts and minds of the populace in the AOR. As a result, the unit experienced numerous engagements against the DT’s in the AOR resulting to the recoveries of HPFA’s of various caliber, communication equipment and voluminous subversive documents. These engagements have greatly contributed in neutralizing influence and affected barangays within the Unit’s AOR. It also resulted to the demoralization of the DT members and followers prompting them to return to the folds of the law. During those times, the unit has been transferred from one area to another from Bgy Rizal, to Hda Vasconia, Bgy Bagonbon and then to Bgy Codcod all of San Carlos City, Neg Occ to adjust to the battalion’s operational plan. Continuous combat operations and dialogues were simultaneously conducted to thaw enemy expansion activities and maintain the harmonious relationship with the civilian populace in the area. The unit participated in various government sponsored activities in the AOR and conducted seminars to the populace and other Government Organizations to keep them aware of their roles in the society.
On June 1994, the Company underwent retraining joining with other companies and its mother unit at Calatrava, Neg Occ for the duration of almost three (3) months. After it’s retraining the unit has with its mother unit moved to the new AOR in the southern portion of Negros Island or known as “CHICKS” area. Particularly the unit was deployed in Bgy Alim, Hinuba-an, Neg. Occ to combat insurgency in the area. Administratively and operationally the units have showed exemplary performance in fighting the local communist in its AOR especially in the hinterlands of the Island. In evidence thereof, the unit received various awards and commendation fm High Headquarters and Government Units.
The infamous IPIL incident catapulted the deployment of its mother unit in the Southern Philippines were this Company served as RDF or Rapid Deployment Force to protect the Southern Command Logistic Base and to maintain peace and order within its AOR in the Zamboanga peninsula. The unit again received various awards and commendation in valuable service rendered in accomplishment of its mission.
The series of incidents in Central Mindanao has threaten much its struggling economy, therefore the battalion was ordered to be deployed in the Province of Maguindanao wherein Charlie Company was stationed at Bgy Sampao, Sultan Sabarongis, Maguindanao to established peace and order in the area. Through constant dialogue and communication with Bgy Officials and various civic groups in the area coupled with combat operation, the unit was able to achieve the given task. The unit was also instrumental in providing peace and order that led to the re-opening of classes in Bgy Sampao Elem School and Bgy Maital Elem School, SSB Mag respectively.
On 22 Apr 96, the unit was transferred to Quarry Area, Bgy Masulot, SSB, Mag where it contributed and accomplished the given task to liberate Riena Reinte Complex from the Muslim rebels. The unit contributed services that helped develop the complex to a safer place for the populace. 01 Jul 97, during this period the Command Post of the company was moved to So. Wato, Bgy Masulot, SSB, Mag to expand its area of operation. Continuous combat operation, CMO and other activities were the main focus to attain peace and order and to establish government projects in the AOR.
Thereafter, the unit was transferred to Bgy Mileb, SSB, Mag. During that time, the battalion was dispatched to the Provinces of Lanao on 30 Mar 00 to boost government effort in countering threats and harassment perpetrated by MILF rebels in the province. The unit was utilized as the striking company of the Battalion and has test its mettle on the series of operation conducted which contributed to the fall of the MILF satellite camps and its main Camp Abu Bakar and the recoveries of HPFA’s and war materiel.
The unit was again join by its mother unit in Calinog, Iloilo to undergo retraining and completed the said training on 12 Jan 01 and was re-deployed in Negros Island given the task to conduct ISO operations to establish government foothold and neutralize DT’s in the new AOR. The unit was then stationed at Hda Binitin, Bgy Blumintrit, Murcia, Neg Occ and has operational area fm Murcia, Don Salvador Benidicto, Silay, Talisay, EB Magalona, and Victorias City all of Neg Occ. After more than a year of addressing ISO operation in the AOR, the unit gained various awards and commendation as a result of the encounter between LCM in Silay, Neg Occ that resulted to the recovery of HPFA’s and two(2) en body count. On 04 Mar 02, the unit together with its mother unit was re-deployed in the Province of Bohol and tasked to conduct a series of SOT operations in the area of Talibon, Trinidad, Ubay and San Miguel all in Bohol Province.
After the successful SOT operation, the Company with its mother unit was again re-deployed in Cebu Province in which the unit headquarters was first station at Bgy Tubigagmanok, Asturias, Cebu. The unit is operating in three (3) municipalities namely Tuburan, Asturias and Balamban. The unit also established detachments in Bgy Kansi, Gimama-a and Monte Alegre all of Tuburan, Cebu and Bgy Ginatilan, Balamban, Cebu to further straighten its operational and CMO activity in the given AOR.
It was also during this time that the unit effectively utilized CAA’s in the AOR especially in detachments to counter threats imposed by legal fronts and its armed wing, the NPA. The presence of legal fronts of the NPA in the area made imperative to the company commander to dispatch its SOT operators in threatened bgys to preempt enemy plan and expansion activities and establish government foothold. Additional troops are also being dispatched to act as security to the SOT.
The unit also conducted numerous combat operations that led to the capture of four (4) rebels in the hinterlands of Bgy Ginabucan, Catmon, Cebu and the recoveries of subversive documents. The unit intensifies its intel operations to monitor enemy plan and its expansion activities. The unit was also actively involved in war against illegal drugs that led to the capture of suspected drug pushers in Bgy Polo and Bgy Sta Cruz all of Balamban, Cebu. In CMO, the unit continued its SOT operation in the AOR particularly the threaten Bgys of Tuburan, Cebu. It also actively participated in local government activities to preserve its image and good rapport with the civilians.
The unit was re-deployed at Brgy Tubod, Ast, Cebu to address the operational needs. The unit also contributed in the successful raid against the CTs at Brgy Dalid, Tabuelan on 19 March 2006. The raid demoralized the CTs, affected the morale of some cadres, and cause other members to go on lie-low
July of 2006 the unit was re-deployed at So Tunlob, Brgy Colonia, Tub, Cebu and continuously conducted ISO to eliminate CT’s and destroy its political influence in the AO and maintained the Province of Cebu Insurgent-Free Province especially the Unit’s AO, Mun of Asturias, Mun of Tuburan, Mun of Tabuelan, San Remegio and Mun of Medillin all of Northwest Cebu. And on October 2010, the entire 78IB was consolidated at Bn Hqs, Brgy Nangka, Balamban, Cebu for Battalion Re-training to enhance the unit capability.
After the Battalion Re-training, the unit was re-deployed and occupied the Company Hqs of Bravo Coy of 19IB, 8ID, PA as temporary patrol base together with the “B” Coy 19IB at Brgy Abuyugon, Buraeun, Leyte last 19 Feb 2011 and conducts combat operation at the area of Buraeun and Albuera, Leyte which resulted to encounter to CT’s twice on March 2011 with undetermined numbers of KIA’s and WIA’s on enemy side. And on present, the unit was re-deployed at Brgy Hibod-hibod, Sogod, Southern Leyte, occupying the whole Southern Leyte as Area of Operation and the unit conducted suppressive pulong-pulong and CMO activities to deny the CT’s re-entry or re-incursion in the entire Area of Operation. And in view, the Province of Southern Leyte was declared Insurgent-Free Province last 29 Sept 2011 and the unit was strongly supports the Internal Peace and Security Plan/Bayanihan of HHqs to sustain the partnership to the stakeholders especially the Government Institution, Non-Gov’t Institution and local communities and the unit also intensified the intelligence operation to monitor the possible enemy re-entry and re-incursion in our Area of Operation.
