THE newly-activated Army's 97th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the 1st Infantry Division (ID) is undergoing organizational training to enhance the competence and skills of its personnel.
Major Ronald Suscano, Army's 1st Infantry Division information officer, said the 97th Infantry Battalion were among the 10 additional battalions the Philippine Army has activated and operationalized.
Suscano said the new battalion was activated effective April 10, 2018 pursuant to General Orders Number 211 dated March 24, 2018.
He said the organizational training of the new battalion started Thursday, May 3.
It has an initial strength of 400 soldiers, including some of the new privates who completed training last April 5.
Suscano said the activation of the new battalion is aimed to augment the units deployed in Western Mindanao.
The army official said that Lieutenant Colonel Rufino De Leon has been named as the commander of the 97th Infantry Battalion.
De Leon was the previous commandant of the First Division Training School of the 1st Infantry Division.
He expressed his gratitude to Major General Roseller Murillo, 1st Infantry Division commander, for entrusting him lead the newly-activated battalion.
Murillo said the command has its full trust and confidence on choosing the leadership De Leon as the pioneer commander of 97th Infantry Battalion. (VoxPop Philippines)
