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'{{short description|Philippine Army counter-terrorist unit}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= Light Reaction Regiment | image= LRR patch.jpg | image_size =150px |caption=Regiment Insignia |dates= February 1, 2004 – present |country={{Flagcountry|Philippines}} |branch= {{army|Philippines}} | type = [[Special forces]] | role = [[Special operations]]<br />[[Counter Terrorism]]<br />[[Hostage Rescue]]<br />[[Special Reconnaissance]]<br />[[Direct action (military)|Direct Action]] |size= Classified |current_commander= BGen Monico E. Abang, PA |garrison= [[Fort Ramon Magsaysay]], [[Nueva Ecija]]<ref name="News">[http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec01/news1.htm Military braces for power grab try.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102235923/http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec01/news1.htm |date=2008-01-02 }} Retrieved on January 2, 2008.</ref> |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |nickname= "''LRR''", "''Philippines' Delta Force''" |patron= |motto= ''"Tiradores de la Muerte"'' (''Sharpshooters of Death'')<ref>https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/luna-sharpshooters-history-a00293-20201104</ref> |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= *[[Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines]] *[[Light Reaction Regiment#History|Trojan Horse Operations]] *[[Communist rebellion in the Philippines|Communist Insurgencies]] *[[Islamic insurgency in the Philippines|Islamic Insurgencies]] *Anti-guerrilla operations against [[New People's Army|NPA]] *Anti-guerrilla operations against [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front|MILF]] *[[Moro conflict]] *[[Manila Peninsula siege]] *[[Zamboanga City crisis|Zamboanga crisis]] *[[APEC Philippines 2015]] Security *[[Marawi crisis|2017 Marawi crisis]] *[[Joint Operation Haribon]] with NAVSOG during Marawi siege |notable_commanders= Jose Luntok, Lawrence San Juan, Alexander Macario, Danilo Pamonag |anniversaries= |decorations= [[File:Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines) Streamer.png|250px]] <br /> [[Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines)|Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge]]<br />Presidential Streamer Award |battle_honours= |identification_symbol=[[File:The AFP Master Parachutist Badge.jpg|175px|center]] |identification_symbol_label=AFP Master Parachutist Badge |identification_symbol_2=[[File:Scout Ranger Qualification Badge.jpg|60px|center]] |identification_symbol_2_label=Scout Ranger Qualification Badge |identification_symbol_3=[[File:PA Special Forces Qualification Badge.jpg|125px|center]] |identification_symbol_3_label=Special Forces Qualification Badge }} The '''Light Reaction Regiment''' is the premier [[counter-terrorism|counter-terrorist unit]] of the [[Philippine Army]]. It was formerly known as the Light Reaction Battalion and Light Reaction Company. Due to its specialization in counter-terrorism operations and its formation with the assistance of American advisers, the Light Reaction Regiment has been sometimes referred to as the [[Philippines]]' [[Delta Force]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://sofrep.com/news/sofrep-exclusive-inside-light-reaction-regiment-philippines-answer-delta-force-part-2/| title = SOFREP Exclusive: Inside the Light Reaction Regiment, the Philippines answer to Delta Force (Part 2) {{!}} SOFREP}} </ref> The LRR is under the command of the [[Special Operations Command (Philippines)|Philippine Special Operations Command]].<ref>https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/whats-in-the-new-philippines-special-operations-command/</ref> == History == The Light Reaction Regiment can trace its origins back to the year 2000 when non-commissioned officers from the [[1st Scout Ranger Regiment|Scout Rangers]] and [[1st Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)]] were trained by American military advisers from the 1st Battalion, [[1st Special Forces Group]].<ref name= "Stuff">https://web.archive.org/web/20110208152709/https://www.stripes.com/news/philippine-soldiers-show-off-what-they-learned-from-the-green-berets-1.14479</ref> From February to July 2001,<ref name="US">https://web.archive.org/web/20041201225548/http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume2/june_2004/6_04_3_pf.html</ref> American special forces insructors from the Company B, 1st BN, 1st SFG from Okinawa trained and raised the former LRC with further training during the 2002 Balikatan exercises,<ref>[http://www.vfw.org/resources/levelxmagazine/0205_Troops%20Train%20Filipinos.pdf 'Shoulder to Shoulder'. Combatting Terrorists in the Philippines.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109025939/http://www.vfw.org/resources/levelxmagazine/0205_Troops%20Train%20Filipinos.pdf |date=2008-01-09 }} Retrieved on January 2, 2008.</ref><ref name="RAND">https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1200/RR1236/RAND_RR1236.pdf</ref> whose members were first drawn from the Scout Rangers and 1st Special Forces Regiment.<ref name="US"/> After days and years of training under American instructors, the LRC was officially activated on February 1, 2004<ref>Combat Magazine, March 2008. Page 41.</ref> and was tasked to be deployed into [[Mindanao]] in order to combat Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists responsible for abducting several foreign hostages,<ref name="US"/> with the unit conducting an operation to rescue [[Gracia Burnham]] from Abu Sayyaf terrorists.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/printer_174.shtml Philippines since 1945.] Retrieved on January 2, 2008</ref> Further exercises had been conducted during the 2006 Balikatan exercises.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20211121091431/http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/files/tos_apr_06.pdf</ref> The LRC had been involved in a rescue operation conducted on a kidnapped Italian priest by armed men in 2007.<ref>[http://www.radiopinoyusa.com/radiopinoy_news.php?id=NEWS-01564 ITALIAN ENVOY HAPPY FOR MILITARY'S EFFORT TO RESCUE ITALIAN PRIEST BOSSI.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208221155/http://www.radiopinoyusa.com/radiopinoy_news.php?id=NEWS-01564 |date=2008-02-08 }} Retrieved on January 2, 2008.</ref> The unit was involved in the aftermath of the [[Manila Peninsula rebellion]], where they had been deployed to [[Manila]] to deter any other coup attempts.<ref name="News"/> LRC forces have been deployed to [[Mindanao]] to conduct anti-terrorist operations in the region.<ref>[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=84721 No cut in US military aid.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013185702/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=84721 |date=2007-10-13 }} Retrieved on January 2, 2008.</ref> The unit changed its name from the LRC to the Light Reaction Battalion in 2008. 50 members of the unit, including 3 officers, were suspended on 9 February 2008, when elements of the LRB came under investigation for the alleged possible killing of innocent civilians on 4 February 2008 during operations in [[Mindanao]] against the [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front|MILF]]. The unit was cleared of any wrongful doing since the investigation subsequently linked the killings to misinformation provided by an unreliable informant.<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/lrb.htm</ref> In 2014, the unit was again renamed into the Light Reaction Regiment due to its heroic stand in Zamboanga in September 2013. Its elevation to a full regiment was formally sanctioned by Defense Secretary Gazmin on January 16, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nikko Dizon & Tarra Quismundo |date=January 17, 2014 |title=We need big ally vs bully |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer }}</ref> A further three companies have been authorized to be added to the already existing three, bringing the total end strength of the regiment up to 600 soldiers.<ref name="rappler.com">http://www.rappler.com/nation/47411-philippines-double-size-anti-terror-troops</ref> This could prove difficult for the unit as it has almost always been understrength. When deployed to [[Zamboanga City|Zamboanga]] in 2013, the LRB was at only 40% strength.<ref>http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/68885-zamboanga-siege-light-reaction-battalion</ref><ref name="sofrep.com">{{cite web| url = https://sofrep.com/83408/sofrep-exclusive-inside-operations-light-reaction-regiment-part-3/| title = SOFREP Exclusive: Inside the operations of the Light Reaction Regiment (Part 3) {{!}} SOFREP}} </ref> ===Recent activity=== All 3 companies were deployed to [[2013 Zamboanga City crisis|Zamboanga City in September, 2013]] and led over 3,000 soldiers and police deployed in the siege. The terrain proved tough for the other units used to fighting rebels in the jungles and remote, uphill areas. The Light Reaction Regiment (still a Battalion at the time) consisted of battle tested soldiers recruited from the Army's elite fighting units, the [[Scout Ranger Regiment|Scout Rangers]] and the [[Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)|Special Forces]]. The unit was undermanned throughout the operation, only being at 40% authorized manpower and had to be augmented by 45 SEALs from the navy's [[Naval Special Operations Command|Naval Special Operations Group]].<ref name="sofrep.com"/> Despite the setbacks, the operation was a success, but it cost the lives of 9 LRB soldiers with a further 37 wounded.<ref>http://www.rappler.com/nation/40831-navy-elite-zamboanga-city-crisis</ref><ref name="rappler.com"/> In 2014, the LRR conducted a [[trojan horse]] operation at a [[drag racing|drag race]] to either kill or capture [[Abu Sayyaf]] target [[Sihata Latip]], who was wanted for kidnapping 21 people in [[Malaysia]] in 2000. He went on to conduct a string of kidnappings in the Philippines over subsequent years, but as the Philippines got better at counter terrorism operation, the Islamists were cut off from overseas international terrorist finance networks, particularly the ones originating in [[Saudi Arabia]] and in order to make up for this loss in income, they engage in kidnapping for ransom. The 24 LRR soldiers trained for a week to execute the mission. They dressed up as if going to a Muslim wedding, rented local jeeps and decorated it. Some soldiers dressed up as women to avoid raising suspicion. One soldier with a [[M249 light machine gun]] dressed as a pregnant woman, but forgot to shave on the day of the operation and had to loan a [[hand fan]] from one of the female soldiers on the base to cover his [[goatee]]. On the way to the drag race one of the jeeps broke down. The commander of the operation decided to go on with the mission with only one jeep and 13 men. When they arrived at the drag race, the LRR operators identified their [[High Value Target]] from about 50 civilians and terrorists, approached and drew weapons. A firefight ensued in which the target was killed, but at the loss of a LRR operator who got shot in the neck. The operators loaded up the two bodies and made their getaway, while being shot at by [[Abu Sayyaf]] and [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]].<ref>http://www.rappler.com/nation/75800-abu-sayyaf-commander-killed-sulu</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://sofrep.com/83729/the-light-reaction-regiments-trojan-horse-mission-in-sulu-kills-a-high-value-target/| title = The Light Reaction Regiment's Trojan Horse mission in Sulu kills a High Value Target {{!}} SOFREP}} </ref> In May 2017, the regiment spearheaded the army's counter terrorism effort in the [[Marawi crisis]], clearing out the enemy house by house.<ref>https://news.vice.com/story/philippines-special-forces-are-on-the-hunt-for-isis-militants</ref> On September 4, 2018, the U.S. Counterterrorism Train and Equip Program provided more than 5 million rounds of ammunition worth Php117.4 million ($2.2 million), most of them being used by the LRR.<ref>https://ph.usembassy.gov/us-government-provides-millions-of-rounds-of-ammunition-to-the-armed-forces-of-the-philippines/</ref> On May 4, 2020, Col. Monico E. Abang is appointed at the LRR's commanding officer, taking over from Brig. Gen. Monico S. Batle.<ref>https://www.army.mil.ph/home/index.php/press-releases-2/725-army-installs-new-light-reaction-regiment-commander</ref> ==Structure== The LRR consists of a Headquarters, a Headquarters Company and three Light Reaction Companies in 2004 with 400 operators.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20200325230400/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a429856.pdf</ref><Ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20060909140917/http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwhr458.html</ref> As of 2019, the LRR is known to have 700 operators.<ref>https://anna-news.info/hard-victory-in-marawi-operation-analyst/</ref> ==Training== The LRR recruits from experienced Scout Rangers and Special Forces Regiment operators.<ref>https://www.soc.mil/SWCS/DOTDP/AY_2009/Farris,%20S%202009.pdf</ref> ==Gear== M4 and HK416 carbines are used by the LRR as their standard assault rifles.<ref>https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/635353/army-men-receive-new-powerful-rifles</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210625064026/https://www.tdh.de/fileadmin/user_upload/inhalte/04_Was_wir_tun/Themen/Weitere_Themen/Kleinwaffen/Final_Small_Arms_in_Small_Hands_GermanArmsExportsViolatingChildRights_terre_des_hommes_BfdW_Bits_FINAL_20Nov20.pdf</ref> The SR-25 is used by the LRR as their sniper rifle.<ref>https://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07MANILA255_a.html</ref> ==References== {{reflist|1}} {{commons category|Light Reaction Regiment}} {{Philippine Army regular units and formations}} [[Category:Special forces of the Philippines]] [[Category:Regiments of the Philippines]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 2001]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 2014]] [[Category:Counter-terrorist organizations]] [[Category:Philippine Army]] [[Category:Special forces units and formations]] [[Category:2001 establishments in the Philippines]]'