The 703rd inf (agila) bde started from the former advance command post (acp) of the 3rd inf bde (sep) pa organized in march 1987 under ltc lothario a grajeda inf (gsc) pa stationed at camp tinio, cabanatuan city, nueva ecija . It had nueva ecija and aurora province as its aor with 56ib, 71ib, “a” battery, 3fab and 3las “a” coy, 3lab as units under its operational control (opcon). When the 3rd infantry brigade was upgraded and become the 7th inf (kaugnay) div, pa in the later part of 1987. The acp was renamed tactical command group (tcg) east and col eduardo y pangan inf (gsc) pa was installed as the new commander. It had the same aor and opcon units. On 08 oct 1988, the 703rd inf bde (prov’l) was activated pursuant to go # 464 hpa dated 11 oct 1988.
On 09 jan 1989, COL OSWALDO P VILLANUEVA INF (GSC) PA took over the command and added to its aor were alfonso, castaneda in nueva viscaya, dinapigue in isabela and eastern pangasinan. Also added to its opcon units were 70ib and mtt, 3sfc, 3sfbn by 01 june 1989. The unit became a regular infantry brigade of the 7th inf (kaugnay) div, pa. The brigade headquarters moved to brgy san isidro, san luis, aurora province on 14 august 1989.
On 16 apr 1990, COL JOSE C LAPUS INF (GSC) PA became the next commander. He moved the headquarters to brgy imelda valley, palayan city, ne in april 1991. By 07 nov 1991, the headquarters was relocated to namulandayan, lupao, ne and the aor was expanded to cover the whole of nueva vizcaya.
COL JOSE E ESCARCHA INF (GSC) PA took over the command on 04 oct 1993. By january 1994, the brigade headquarters was relocated at brgy camp tinio, cabanatuan city, ne. Bulacan was added to its aor in may 1994 and bataan by august 1994 additional units, 19sfc and 3rac were placed opcon to the brigade. In september 1995, the brigade headquarters was moved to camacho, balanga, bataan and 70ib was relieved by 24ib.
In Jan 1996, COL ESCARCHA was promoted to brigadier general. By february 1996, 71ib was relieved but the brigade reacquired 70ib. During the period, 71ib and 34lac were temporarily attached to the brigade when it provided security to the apec leaders summit in sbma. Bgen escarcha has produced in his term THE AFP BEST CMO OFFICER IN THE PERSON OF CPT MICHAEL MARLON SAN PEDRO DS (PA).
By 16 december 1996, COL ALBERTO FERNANDO F BRAGANZA INF (GSC) PA, took over the brigade. He moved the brigade headquarters to brgy malabobo, mangatarem, pangasinan on 19 may 1997.
By June 1997, the brigade acquired 69ib along with 3lac and additional aor covering mountain province and aura. In aug 1997, 70ib was removed from its OPCON units. Subsequently, aurora, Nueva Ecija, eastern Pangasinan Nueva Vizcaya, Dinapigue in Isabela and Bulacan, (except the town of Hagonoy) were also removed from its aor....read more
