19th Infantry Battalion explained

The 19th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (referred to as the 19IB PA, or simply the 19IB) is an organic unit of the 8th Infantry (Storm Troopers) Division.[1] [2]

Headquarters

The is currently stationed in the Eastern Visayas region,[3] with its headquarters in Catubig, Northern Samar.[4]

Prior assignments

19IB had been assigned to the 10th Infantry Division in Arakan, North Cotabato for a four year stint until 2020, and had been based in Kananga, Leyte under the 8th Infantry Division prior to its North Cotabato assignment.[5]

Notable incidents

1993 Disappearance of Robin and Diorito Trosing

Amnesty International noted an incident on 31 May 1993 in which Palapag, Northern Samar farmers Robin and Diorito Trosing were taken for questioning by the 19IB and a local Citizen Armed Force Geographical Group (CAFGU) unit. Amnesty noted that many of the individuals in such cases are "presumed to have been killed in detention.[6]

2010 Killing of Leonardo Co, Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo

The 19th Infantry Battalion (19IB), which was under the command of 1Lt Ronald Odchimar at the time,[1] became involved in a widely publicized incident on November 15, 2010, in which preeminent[7] [8] Filipino botanist Leonardo Co, a forest guard named Sofronio Cortez and a local farmer named Julius Borromeo, who were gathering endangered tree species seedlings in Kananga, Leyte, were killed in what the Army claimed to be "a crossfire with the New People’s Army".[8] [9] [10]

2007 labor leader arrest

In May 2007, the 19IB was the unit which oversaw the high profile arrest of labor leader Vincent Borja, who was found innocent and released three years later in 2010.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charges Filed in Connection with the Death of Botanist Leonardo Co . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200922204715/https://www.doj.gov.ph/news_article.html?newsid=161 . 2020-09-22 . 2023-11-18 . Department of Justice - Republic of the Philippines.
  2. Web site: Roque . Mylah Reyes . 2012-12-11 . CHR recommends charging soldiers in botanist killing . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231118071233/https://verafiles.org/articles/chr-recommends-charging-soldiers-in-botanist-killing . 2023-11-18 . 2023-11-18 . VERA Files . en-US.
  3. News: 2018-03-27 . The cost of counterinsurgency in Eastern Visayas . 2024-02-16 . Bulatlat.com . en-US.
  4. News: 2023-02-27 . 8ID installs new battalion commander of 19IB . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227233925/https://www.leytesamardailynews.com/8id-installs-new-battalion-commander-of-19ib/#google_vignette . 2023-02-27 . 2024-03-18 . Leyte Samar Daily News . en-US.
  5. News: Marticio . Marie Tonette . 2020-06-12 . PH Army battalion returns to mother unit in Samar after 4-year Mindanao peacebuilding mission . Manila Bulletin.
  6. Web site: Philippines: fear of "disappearance": Robin Trosing, Diorito Trosing . 2024-03-18 . Amnesty International . en.
  7. Ong . Perry S. . Ingle . N. . June 2011 . Remembering... A National Treasure: Leonard Co (1953-2010) . . Social Science Diliman . 7 . 1 . 117–119 . 1655-1524 .
  8. Web site: Philippines' top botanist killed in crossfire . ABS CBN News and Public Affairs.
  9. Web site: Acosta . Ericson . 12 April 2011 . An overview of the human rights situation in Eastern Visayas .
  10. Web site: Medenilla . Vina . 2022-08-11 . Nearly 12 years after esteemed botanist's killing, justice remains out of reach . 2023-11-18 . Manila Bulletin . en.
  11. Web site: Labor Leader Found Innocent, Freed After 3 Years in Prison . 14 October 2010 .

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