Army reactivates tank battalion

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Army has reactivated its 1st Tank Battalion, 61 years after it was deactivated due to lack of funds.

The unit will be composed of newly acquired and upcoming assets, which include 18 Sabrah ASCOD and 10 Pandur 8x8 wheeled light tanks.

The 1st Tank Battalion will also have a command vehicle,  recovery vehicle and a tank gunnery simulator, which were  all acquired under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Revised Modernization Program.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. led the reactivation ceremony for the 1st Tank Battalion as well as the deactivation of the 8th Cavalry Company at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac last week.

Lt. Col. Don Frivaldo assumed as acting commander of the provisional battalion during the ceremony that was highlighted by the unfurling of the battalion’s color.

Personnel of the deactivated cavalry company, which provided support to the 103rd Infantry Brigade (IB) of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, will become the “nucleus” of the reactivated tank battalion.

The 103rd IB’s area of operations included Lanao del Sur and parts of Lanao del Norte.