Army bolsters anti-terror force

Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes

NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines – The Philippine Army beefed up its anti-terror force by activating the Light Reaction Regiment Thursday morning at the Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija during the Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) 23rd anniversary.

Formerly known as Light Reaction Battalion, the unit would be now composed of six companies by 2015.

The Regiment currently has three companies with the fourth to be activated in 2014 and the fifth and sixth companies in 2015.

“They are the country’s most lethal warriors,” said Philippine Army Commander Lieutenant General Noel A. Coballes.

“Victory, some of which, would be paid with ultimate sacrifice.”

According to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, the rest of the soldiers would come from within the SOCOM and from the Scout Rangers.

“These are anti-terrorism units, especially since they had the experience in urban warfare (that happened in Zamboanga), we will make that unit stronger,” Gazmin said.

The group would be under the command of Colonel Teodoro Llamas whose group would be the lead anti-terrorism forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Gazmin said that they are not expecting a larger terrorist activity but the AFP preferred to be prepared in case of more insurgent activities.

He added that the regiment’s equipment would be part of the modernization program of the AFP that would include special firearms and gadgets.

Coballes said that the regiment, as the elite forces of the Army, should become the most disciplined unit in their ranks.

“It is not enough to maintain the standard, they should set the bar,” Coballes said.

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