ISABELA--- The Philippine Army has reactivated the 501st “Valiant” Infantry Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division to address the communist insurgency problem along the Cagayan and lower Apayao border.
Army officials said the immediate deployment of the 501st Brigade is a significant development to fast track the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to put an end to the communist insurgency.
Deputy brigade commander Col. Rhenante Salvador was named Officer-in-Charge of the unit.
The 501st "Valiant" Infantry Brigade will work with the Local Government Units and government agencies to expedite the implementation of the whole-of-nation-approach in ending local communist armed conflict and to ensure sustainable peace and development in the area.
The brigade is tasked to dismantle the Northern Front Committee in Cagayan and Apayao within a prescribed timeline.
It will also conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search, rescue and retrieval operations in the landslide and flash flood prone areas in times of calamities
In the send-off ceremony, Brig. Gen. Laurence E. Mina PA, Commander of 5ID, encouraged the members of Valiant Brigade to effectively carry out their mandated tasks.
“Patuloy nating palakasin ang ating kapabilidad na tapusin at tuldukan ang insurhensiya sa Cagayan Valley at Cordillera Region sa lalong madaling panahon, isulong ang makatotohanang kapayapaan at patuloy na kaunlaran para sa lahat, paigtingin niyo lalo ang katapatan, dedikasyon, at kasipagan sa pagtupad ng ating sinumpaang tungkulin para sa bayan, at higit sa lahat, huwag ninyong kalimutang humingi ng gabay sa ating Dakilang Lumikha," Mina said. (We should intensify our efforts to put an end to insurgency in Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Region, push for real peace and developmentl, double our resolve to serve with dedication our people and our nation, and most importantly, we should never forget to seek guidance from our Maker.)