803rd Infantry Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, PA was organized and activated on 11 July 1988 as a provisional Brigade pursuant to General Orders Number 257, Hqs Philippine Army dated 14 July 1989.

On 12 September 1988, the Provisional Brigade together with the 20th and 34th Infantry Battalions was moved from Hqs, 8th Infantry (SEPARATE) Brigade, Catbalogan, Samar to Southern Leyte on board an LST. Upon arrival in Southern Leyte, the Brigade temporarily occupied the buildings of the San Isidro Elementary School in San Isidro, Sogod, Southern Leyte. The following units were then under the Brigade's operational control.

a. 20IB - CP at San Juan (Cabalian), Southern Leyte

b. 34IB - CP at Anahawan, Southern Leyte

c. 43IB - CP at Malinao, Mahaplag, Leyte

d. Southern Leyte Constabulary Command (SLCC) - based at Canturing, Maasin, Southern Leyte         with its three (3) subordinate units namely:

    1. 353rd PC Company in Bulwang, Sogod, Southern Leyte

    2. 357th PC Company in Bgy Lipanto, St Bernard, Southern Leyte

    3. 359th PC Company in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.

Aside from the three (3) OPCON Army Battalions and one (1) Constabulary Command, it also exercised control over two (2) Combat Support Units such as "C" Btry, 8FAB and the 3rd LAP, 8LAC that were co-located with the Brigade Hqs. The Brigade, likewise, supervised and controlled the deployment of ten (10) CAFGU Companies. These are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th CAA Companies all of Leyte Sur and 6th, 7th and 8th CAA Companies all of Leyte Norte. It should be noted that the 6th and 7th CAA Coys are distinct but were given same designations.

After a year and six months stint in Southern Leyte, the unit had made laudable accomplishments by clearing the whole area of Southern Leyte. This was the result of the aggressive implementation of the AFP Campaign Plan "LUPIG-LIPOL I and II" against the insurgents within the area of operation. The Brigade Commander then was COL WILFREDO A DUBLIN.

On 18 March 1990, the Brigade changed its AOR and left Southern Leyte to confront the CPP/NPA operating in the Southern part of Samar Island as tasked by the 8th Infantry Division. The Brigade assumed command and control over all of the ground forces in the Southern part of Samar. Its Hqs was temporarily based at Bgy Parasanon, Pinabacdao, Samar co-located with the 52nd Infantry Battalion. However, after few days of conducting counter-insurgency campaign in the new area of operation, the Brigade moved again its Command Post from Parasanon, Pinabacdao, Samar to Bgy Caticugan, Sta Rita, on 29 May 1990.

On 16 October 1990, the 803rd Infantry (Provisional) Brigade became a regular Tactical Brigade pursuant to General Orders Number 563, Hqs Philippine Army dated 16 October 1990 with then COL ROMEO B TARRAYO as the Brigade Commander.

On 12 November 1993, COL FILOMENO R GARCIA JR took over the Command of the Brigade vice BGEN TARRAYO.

On 16 January 1995, COL FILOMENO R GARCIA JR relinquished the Command to COL CALIXTO F BANAŅA.

On 15 March 1996, COL BANAŅA died in a helicopter crash together with BGEN DANILO P OLAY, the 8th Infantry Division Commander, and six (6) others including the Operation Officer of the 8ID, COL EDGAR CENTENO SR while on their way from Calbayog to Headquarters 8ID in Catbalogan, Samar. The party came from Barruz, Matuguinao, Samar where they attended an ALPS graduation exercise, opening of a cooperative and Medical / Dental Civic Actions.

On 18 March 1996, COL DIONISIO R SANTIAGO INF (GSC) PA was designated as the Brigade Commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade.

On 20 May 1998, the 803rd Infantry Brigade moved from Bgy Caticugan, Sta Rita, Samar to Camp Somoroy, Catarman, Northern Samar and assumed and control over all ground forces in the entire Northern Samar and portion of Western Samar. The following units are under the Brigade's operational control:

a. 19IB - CP at Rawis, Laoang, NSamar with five (5) CAA Companies controlled, namely, 3rd, 6th,             8th, 9th and 10th Northern Samar CAA Companies.

b. 63IB - CP at Bgy Salvacion, San Isidro, NSamar with six (6) CAA Companies controlled, namely,            11th, 14th, 15th of NSamar and 2nd, 13th and 30th Western CAA Companies.

Sometime in May 2000, 63IB was pulled-out and deployed to Mindanao area with 19th Infantry Battalion taking over its AOR.

On 15 February 1999, COL ILUMINADO B ARAGON INF (GSC) PA took over the Command of the Brigade vice BGEN DIONISIO R SANTIAGO AFP then.

On 16 November 2000, BGEN ILUMINADO B ARAGON AFP relinquished the Command to COL RAFAEL S ROMERO INF (GSC) PA.

It has also exercised control over two (2) combat support units, the "C" Btry, 8FAB and 3rd LAP, 8LAC which are co-located with the Brigade Hqs.

On 06 January 2001, the 82nd Recon Company was placed OPCON to the Brigade and placed further OPCON to 19th Infantry Battalion based at Bgy Urdaneta, Lavezares, NSamar. On 10 January 2001, the 81st Recon Company was placed OPCON to the Brigade, relieved-in-placed Delta Company of 19th Infantry Battalion at San Juan, San Isidro, NSamar and designated as the Brigade Reserved .

The Brigade Commander deemed it will be wise to concentrate its forces in the 1st and 2nd Districts of Northern Samar to confront the forces which are both priority fronts operating in the said province.

On 15 March 2001, the 63rd Infantry Battalion that was deployed to Mindanao was redeployed to Region 8 and was placed OPCON to the Brigade. With this development, the 81st Recon Company was released to 802nd Infantry Brigade in order the 803rd Infantry Brigade to assume their operational jurisdiction of its new AOR effective this date after losing operational control over the 34th Infantry Battalion.

The Province of Northern Samar is retained by the Brigade and relieved its operational jurisdiction over Western Samar except the City of Calbayog. To operationalize the one-on-one concept of the Campaign Plan, the OPCON Infantry Battalion units were given the following operational jurisdiction.

a. 19th Inf Bn - covers the ten (10) municipalities of the 2nd Congressional District of Northern Samar to include one (1) in the 1st District and five (5) barangays of Catarman situated at the eastern portion of Catarman River.

b. 63rd Inf Bn - covers thirteen (13) municipalities of the 1st Congressional District of Northern Samar and the whole City of Calbayog, Western Samar.

On 22 November 2001, the 19th Infantry Battalion was pulled-out and re-deployed in Mindanao at the height of the government campaign against the MILF and the ASG.

In this situation, 63rd Inf Bn relief-in-place 19IB AOR in the 2nd District of Nsamar that covers the twenty four (24) municipalities of the 1st and the 2nd Districts of NSamar while Calbayog City was covered by 34IB.

On 08 Dec 2001, 19th Scout Ranger Company, FSRR, SOCOM, PA was placed OPCON in a short period and was pulled out of the AOR last 04 February 2002.

On 08 March 2002, COL CESAR DP TIONGSON MNSC JCSC (GSC) PA assumed Command taking over COL RAFAEL S ROMERO INF (GSC) PA - COL CESAR DP TIONGSON MNSA JCSC (GSC) PA has stood with firm resolve to carry out the mission bestowed to the brigade, in the conduct of internal security operations to bring relative peace and stability to the constituents of Northern Samar and to the other areas of its operational responsibility.

On 08 March 2002, 3rd Scout Ranger Company, FSRR, SOCOM, PA was placed OPCON to this unit in order to reinforce the thinly disperse troops in the AOR.

On 12 March 2002, 81st Recon Company was placed OPCON to this unit and further OPCON to 34IB while 82nd Recon Company also was placed OPCON to this unit and further OPCON to 63IB.

On 15 May 2002, 3rd Scout Ranger Company, FSRR, SOCOM, PA was released OPCON to 801st Inf Bde. But on 09 June 2002, they were placed OPCON back to this unit.

With the vigor and enthusiasm, the 803rd "PEACEMAKER" Brigade spearhead the command thrust in its mission to bring peace and development in its area of operational responsibility.