As the need to activate combat
units with warm bodies coming from the reservoir of officers in the
inactive status and from the ranks of the 20-year
old conscripts in response to the threat of secession from the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) increased was a corresponding clamor to
establish units that would provide “the needed punch” in
battle. That unit included the armor, hence, the activation of armor
battalions.
While the growing number of
armored units in the AFP was perceived as a sign of organizational
strength, it had its downside where units competed for critical
logistical parts for the armored vehicles. It was the main reason why
tank and reconnaissance (equipped with armored cars) units in the
battalion combat teams (BCTs) were not able to optimize the use of their
armored assets due to problems on maintenance.
Thus, the Philippine Army Light
Armor Regiment (PALAR) integrated all the existing Light Armor
Battalions and Separate Companies of the Army on 16 August 1976. Like
its predecessors, the new unit saw action in many battles against
lawless elements or enemies of the state and earning the respect not
only of their adversaries but all other supported units of the AFP as
well.17
