11th Infantry Division (Philippines)

On 17 December 2018, President Duterte, accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, led the activation of the 11th Infantry ‘Alakdan’ (Scorpion) Division at Kuta Heneral Teofilo Bautista, headquarters of Joint Task Force Sulu in Barangay Bus-Bus, Jolo, Sulu.[2][1]

Composed of units already present in Sulu working under Joint Task Force Sulu, the various units were formed into a new Division dedicated in fighting the ISIS affiliated terrorist groups in the region.[2]

On 28 January 2019, following the bombing of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo on 27 January 2019, the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched an all out assault on known Abu Sayyaf bases in the area.[5] Led by the elite Philippine Scout Rangers, the 11th Infantry Division were given a supporting role and engaged the terrorists trying to flee the combat zone.[6]

It has been reported by Philippine Media on 30 May 2019 that the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be assigned to the Division to aid in the operations against the Abu Sayyaf.[3] These troops arrived on board the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) on 31 May 2019.[7]

On 28 June 2019, two suicide bombers detonated themselves at the gate of the tactical command post of the First Brigade Combat Team (1BCT) in Sitio Tanjung, Barangay Kajatian, Sulu. The blast killed three soldiers and three civilians as well as the bombers. It is believed that this is the first instance of a suicide bombing conducted by native Filipinos.[4]

A British businessman, Allan Hyrons, 70, and his wife, Wilma, were rescued by elite troops of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion with support from the 11th Infantry “Alakdan” Division who found them abandoned by kidnappers at the forested areas of Mt. Piahan, boundary of Barangays Silangkan and Kaha in Parang, Sulu in the morning of 25 November 2019.[8]

An argument with an inebriated soldier resulted in the deaths of three members of the 9th Field Artillery Battalion, Army Artillery Regiment, at Barangay Liang in Patikul on 31 January 2020. Corporal Jack Indap shot dead two officers, Major Rael Gabot and First Lieutenant Ryan Lamoste, as they confronted him for being drunk on duty. Indap was later killed by responding personnel. The 9th Field Artillery Battalion is attached to the 11th Infantry Division as one of its support units.[9]

The 11th Infantry (Alakdan) Division, Philippine Army conducts military and rescue operations against the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, known to operate in the area.[2][1]

The Division has operational responsibility over the Sulu Archipelago consisting of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The entire region is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The official seal of the Division is an irregular hexagon divided in half with a scorpion (Filipino: Alakdan) over a green field on top and two crossed bolos and a kris over a brown field below.

• MGEN DIVINO REY PABAYO JR. AFP (17 December 2018 - 3 July 2019)[2][1]
• MGEN CORLETO S VINLUAN JR. AFP (3 July 2019 – Present)[10]

Main Units:

• 1101st Infantry Brigade (Provisional) - formed from elements of the 101st Infantry Brigade;
  • 32nd Infantry "Daredevil" Battalion - reassigned
  • 35th Infantry "Makamandag" Battalion - reassigned
• 1102nd Infantry Brigade (Provisional) - formed from elements of the 104th Infantry Brigade;
  • 18th Infantry "Deo Et Patria" Battalion - reassigned
  • 64th Infantry "Knights" Battalion - reassigned
• 1st Brigade Combat Team - assigned 31 May 2019[7]
  • 45th Infantry "Gallant" Battalion - from the 5th Infantry Division;
  • 92nd Infantry "Tanglaw Diwa" Battalion - from the 2nd Infantry Division;
  • 6th Mechanized Battalion (Provisional) - from the Mechanized Infantry Division;
  • 9th Field Artillery Battalion (Provisional) - from the Army Artillery Regiment;
  • 71st Division Reconnaissance Company - from the 7th Infantry Division;
  • 500th Engineering Combat Battalion (Provisional)
  • Brigade Support Battalion (Provisional) - formerly 2FSSU from Army Support Command
  • Brigade Signal Company, 7th Signal Battalion - from the Army Signal Regiment;
  • 1st Civil Military Operations Platoon, 2nd CMO Company, 7th CMO Battalion - from the 7th Infantry Division;
  • 1st Military Police Platoon, 7th MP Company - from the 7th Infantry Division;
  • CBRN Team, EOO Battalion - from Army Support Command
  • EOD Platoon, EOD Battalion - from Army Support Command

Attached Units:

• 21st Infantry Battalion - originally with the 501st Infantry Brigade
• 41st Infantry Battalion - originally with the 501st Infantry Brigade
• 66th Infantry Battalion
• 74th Infantry Battalion

Support Units:

• 11th Military Intelligence Battalion - formerly the 11th Military Intelligence Company. 1st Military Intelligence Battalion;
• 15th Civil Military Operations Battalion - formed from existing CMO contingents in Sulu;
• 11th Division Training School (11DTS);
• 11th Services Support Battalion
• 111th Division Reconnaissance Company (111DRC) - formed from the unfilled 12th DRC.
• 11th Signals Battalion - newly activated as of 1 December 2018

• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Philippine Army