5th Infantry Division (Philippines)

Fifth Infantry Division
Coat of Arms of the 5ID
Active	January 03, 1942 - June 30, 1946 (as 5th Infantry Division, PCA) May 11, 1981 - Present
Country	Philippines
Branch	Philippine Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Conventional Warfare, Anti-Guerrilla Operations
Size	3 Brigades
Part of	5th Military Area under the Philippine Commonwealth Army (1942-1946) Under the Philippine Army (Since 1981)
Garrison/HQ	Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela
Nickname(s)	Star Division
Motto(s)	Only our best is good enough
Mascot(s)	Star
Anniversaries	May 11
Engagements	World War II Communist Insurgency in the Philippines Anti-guerrilla operations against the NPA
Commanders
Current commander	MGen Paul Atal AFP
Notable commanders	BGen Felix Brawner AFP, MGen Rodrigo Maclang AFP, BGen Edgardo Batenga AFP, MGen Angelo Reyes AFP, MGen Jaime S Delos Santos AFP, BGen Antonio Palafox AFP, MGen Rodolfo Garcia AFP,
Insignia
Armed Forces Occupational Specialty Insignia

The 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Star Division, is the Philippine Army's primary Infantry unit in Northern Luzon, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare.

The history of the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army traces its humble beginnings when the 5th Infantry Brigade was organized in October 16, 1972, as a major unit of the Philippine Army pursuant to General Orders Number 153, General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines with its station located in Camp Servillano S. Aquino in San Miguel, Tarlac. Brig. Gen. Miguel M. Villamor was appointed as the Commanding General and the unit's territorial jurisdiction covered Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and portion of Quezon - north of Umiray River. On March 29, 1976, Col. Benjamin G. Santos took charge of the Brigade.

On May 11, 1981, the 5th Infantry Brigade (Separate) was elevated and became known as the 5th Infantry Division pursuant to General Orders Number 365, GHQ, AFP to address the growing threat of the local communist movement.

The 5th Infantry Division became distinguished as it spearheaded several campaigns against the local communist movement starting from the renowned Marag Valley in Cagayan, which was their sanctuary where the Headquarters of the Far North Luzon Regional Party Committee of the Northern Luzon Commission was discovered. It was also the training base of the communist forces coming from other NPA units. Marag Valley is a vast forest land extending from the foot of Mt. Siamsanderie in Luna, Apayao to the Malababie Valley in Pamplona, Cagayan. Most of the land area is thickly forested which gives an impression of “virginity” and settlements are found along the mighty Marag River. From 1990-1993, massive operations were launched to restore peace and order situation in the area and continued operations were pursued in the areas of Paco-Zinundungan complex in the same province to Mabiga-Poguin complex in Isabela.

The campaign called for the proper orchestration and synchronization of efforts of the Army with various sector organizations and the local government.

In effect, the masses started to withdraw their support from the local communist movement while several members gave up and/or surrendered to the government renouncing the bloody communist struggle. Support in urban areas fell and by 1991, they merely had some 18,000 availablr. The Army with the full support of various sector organizations and the local government units pressed on with the momentum to put an end to the insurgency.

In an act of desperation, the communists became suspicious of its members and began a massive internal purge of the movement that killed thousands of partisans and members on accusations of being deep penetration agents and informers of the AFP. They also started to target US servicemen with their assassination teams called "Sparrow Units" but these activities only lost them yet more support.