Armed Forces of the Philippines

Armed Forces of the Philippines;
	; Emblem of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Founded	1896
Service branches	Philippine Army; Philippine Navy; Philippine Air Force
Headquarters	Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Benigno Simeon Aquino III
Secretary of National Defense	Voltaire Gazmin
AFP Chief of Staff	Emmanuel T. Bautista
Military age	18-56 years old
Conscription	None enforced, optional through ROTC
Active personnel	150,000
Deployed personnel	2,000
Expenditures
Percent of GDP	2.18%
Industry
Domestic suppliers	Domestic suppliers Government Arsenal; Armscor; Ferfrans; Floro International Cooperation; United Defense Manufacturing Corporation; Steelcraft Industrial & Development Corporation; Propmech Corporation; FBMA Marine Inc.; Aviation Composite Technology; Aerotech Industries Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation
Foreign suppliers	Foreign suppliers Singapore; * ST Engineering; Indonesia; South Korea; Italy; * Finmeccanica; Spain; Israel; South Africa; * Denel/Armscor; * Paramount Group; United States; * Textron; United Kingdom; Australia
Related articles
History	Participant in Philippine Wars of Independence; Philippine Civil War; World War I; World War II; Korean War; Konfrontasi; Vietnam War; Gulf War; Iraq War; War in Afghanistan; Kalayaan Islands Dispute; Philippine Insurgency

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is the military of the Republic of the Philippines responsible for defending the sovereignty, the territorial integrity, and the citizens of the Philippines.

The Commander-in-chief of the AFP is the President of the Republic of the Philippines, currently President Benigno Aquino III. The Chief of Staff heads the AFP General Headquarters which is at the top of the military command structure. The AFP includes the Army, Air Force, and Navy for its service branches. The Philippine Marines is a special branch under the Navy while the AFP Military Police is under the General HQ. Each branch has their own special forces. The AFP is a volunteer force and no mandatory military service is enforced though military training or civil training is required for students in high school. As of 2012, the AFP is reported to have a manpower strength of 150,000. The AFP Modernization Act of 1990 stipulates for each Commander-in-Chief to plan and apply a 4-year modernization program during his tenure.

Historically, the AFP traces its roots from the Filipino revolutionaries of the Katipunan. Cadet and ceremonial uniforms are made to look like Katipunero military outfits. Owing also to the historical founding of the Philippine nation (the first and second republics were characteristically military governments), the military has a significant impact and influence on political affairs. It is not uncommon for a high-ranking military officer to run for public office after retirement.

Defense procurement has been provided mostly by foreign suppliers from South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, Israel, Italy, France, Germany, United States, and United Kingdom. Initiatives to strengthen a domestic defense industry has been started by Ferdinand Marcos but declined through the years. Fidel V. Ramos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and Noynoy Aquino made efforts to strengthen domestic defense industry with varying results. Arroyo was credited for being largely successful in achieving her domestic defense program (production of Filipino Armored Vehicles-series, local manufacture of armored vehicles, aircraft, naval ships).

History[]

Current Status[]

Organization[]

General Headquarters[]

The General Headquarters is at the top of the executive military command structure of the AFP. It is composed of high-ranking personnel from the service branches of the military. The GHQ's role is to provide policies and frameworks with which the AFP as a whole will adopt and implement. It is also involved in formulating strategies and tactics for troop movement and is ultimately responsible for maintaining combat readiness and performance standard. The GHQ also recommends merits and promotion to distinguishable soldiers for the approval of the Commander-in-Chief and serves as the ex officio Board of Directors for the Philippine Military Academy. The GHQ's headquarters is in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila.

Joint Strategic Planning Command[]

The Joint Strategic Planning Command is a relatively new office that hopes to better integrate and promote coordination between the AFP service branches by having a joint extra structure for commanding officers, specially for the high-ranking ones. The JSPC also provides as an avenue for COs to advise each other. In 2008, commanding officers from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force were given an extra structure to the regular AFP structure to accommodate the Joint Strategic Planning Command's objectives. The establishment of the new structure was also to deter officers from joining mutiny attempts within the AFP and for the GHQ to have more chances to approach the lower ranked COs. The headquarters of the Joint Strategic Planning Command is in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila.

Joint Special Operations Command[]

The Joint Special Operations Command is a relatively new office that handles all special forces units of the AFP. In 2008, special forces units from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force were all structured under one command to better manage and monitor the units. The restructuring was caused by a series of repeated mutiny attempts (2003, 2006, 2007) with rebel soldiers recruited mostly from special forces units. The restructuring was also an alternative in reducing upkeep costs by having a joint training garrison instead of each branch having their respective training bases. The headquarters of the Joint Special Operations Command is in an expanded Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

AFP Military Intelligence[]

The AFP Military Intelligence is a small organization within the military that secures and assesses intelligence that are to be used for military purposes. It mainly investigates on evidences found by soldiers on the field and on data gathered by ranging & detection bases. It also provides undercover, reconnaissance, and surveillance services. The AFP-MI employs drones, electronic facilities, and HUMINT .

Philippine Military Academy[]

The military academy of the AFP that produces commissioned officers. It is also the principal military training reserve in the Philippines with features catering the naval, air, and ground components. The AFP-PMA is headquartered in Camp Antonio Luna, Malolos, Bulacan. In, 2011, virtual simulators were installed in AFP-PMA for flight training.

Philippine Army[]

The ground warfare component of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Philippine Army is the oldest service branch of the AFP tracing its roots from the revolutionary army of the Katipunan.

Army Aviation[]

The Philippine Army Aviation is part of the PA that employs fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for transport, reconnaissance, and close air support.

Philippine Navy[]

The naval warfare component of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Philippine Navy is the second oldest service branch of the AFP founded from the Spanish vessels captured by the Katipuneros during the Philippine Revolutionary period. PN vessels are marked with the markings "BRP" meaning Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (Ship of the Republic of the Philippines).

Philippine Marine Corps[]

The Philippine Marine Corp is under the PN that provides ground warfare capabilities. The PMC is usually deployed for expeditionary purposes. The PMC is one of the oldest military bodies of the AFP. It started from the Katipunero soldiers attached to ships acting as secondary armaments.

Naval Aviation[]

The Philippine Naval Aviation is a part of the PN that employs fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for transport, reconnaissance, maritime patrol, and close air support. The PNA supports the naval ships of the PN and the PMA.

Philippine Air Force[]

The air warfare component of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Philippine Air Force is the newest service branch of the AFP formed during World War II with foreign assistance from Imperial Japan.

Equipment[]

Class	Ships	In service	Origin	Status
Kapitan Heneral Antonio Luna-class guided missile frigate (Modified Ulsan-class frigate)	BRP Kapitan Heneral Antonio Luna BRP Magat Heneral Venacio Conception BRP Brigadyer Heneral Benito Natividad	2000-present	Republic of Korea	BRP Kapitan Heneral Antonio Luna currently serves as present PN flagship
Kapitan Heneral Andres Bonifacio-class frigate (Maestrale-class frigate)	BRP Magat Heneral Andres Bonifacio BRP Bigadyer Heneral Procopio Bonifacio	1993-present	Italy	Operational Slated for retirement by 2016
Kapitan Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo-class frigate (Soldati-class patrol frigate)	BRP Kapitan Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo BRP Kapitan Heneral Artemio Ricarte BRP Brigadyer Heneral Pio del Pilar BRP Brigadyer Heneral Mariano Noriel	1993-present	Italy	Operational
Brigadyer Heneral Ciriaco Bonifacio-class corvette (Minerva-class corvette)	BRP Brigadyer Heneral Ciriaco Bonifacio BRP Tenyete Heneral Baldomero Aguinaldo BRP Magat Heneral Crispulo Aguinaldo	1993-present	Italy	Operational Slated for retirement by 2016
Magat Heneral Licerio Geronimo-class corvette (Minerva-class corvette)	BRP Magat Heneral Licerio Geronimo BRP Brigadyer Heneral Pantaleon Villegas BRP Brigadyer Heneral Lazaro Toledo BRP Brigadyer Heneral Pantaleon Garcia	1995-present	Italy	Operational
Brigadyer Heneral Gregorio del Pilar-class corvette (Improved Hamilton-class cutter)	BRP Brigadyer Heneral Gregorio del Pilar BRP Magat Heneral Emilio Jacinto BRP Brigadyer Heneral Manuel Tinio BRP Brigadyer Heneral Santiago Alvarez	2011-present	United States/Philippines	Ships assembled and modified domestically, capabilities upgraded Fifth ship planned
Tenyete Heneral Edilberto Evangelista-class missile gunboat (Sea Wolf-class missile gunboat)	"10 ships" BRP Tenyete Heneral Edilberto Evangelista BRP Tenyete Heneral Vicente Alvarez BRP Tenyete Heneral Martin Delgado BRP Tenyete Heneral Mariano Trias BRP Tenyete Heneral Mariano Alvarez BRP Brigdyer Heneral Simeon Ola BRP Brigadyer Heneral Arcadio Maxilom	1999-present	Philippines/Singapore	Operational 4 ships based on the Sea Wolf-class constructed domestically in 1999, 6 decommissioned Sea Wolf-class transferred from Singapore in 2008
Tinyente Telesforo Trinidad-class submarine (Sauro-class submarine)	BRP Tinyete Telesforo Trinidad BRP Magat Jose Calugas	1997-present	Italy	Operational First submarines of the PN fleet
Magat Conrado Tudtud-class submarine (S1000-class submarine)	BRP Magat Conrado Tudtud BRP ???	2015	Italy	Ordered 2 units in 2012, expected delivery on 2015
Brigadyer Heneral Trinidad Tecson-class patrol vessel (Peacock-class patrol vessel)	"7 ships" BRP Brigadyer Heneral Trinidad Tecson BRP Brigadyer Heneral Teresa Magbanua BRP Brigadyer Heneral Agueda Kahabagan BRP Patrocino Gamboa BRP Marcela Marcelo BRP Valeriana Elises BRP Gregoria Montoya	1997-present	United Kingdom/Philippines	Operational 3 ships transferred in 1997, 4 ships constructed domestically in 2000
Komodor Ramon Alcaraz-class patrol vessel (Fearless-class patrol vessel)	BRP Komodor Ramon Alcaraz BRP Komodor S. Nuval BRP Komodor Abraham Campo BRP Komodor Carlos Albert	2012-present	Singapore/Philippines	Ordered 4 ships in 2010 First ship constructed in Singapore, following ships constructed domestically
Tinyente Jose Andrada-class patrol craft	"25 ships" BRP Tinyente Jose Andrada BRP Tinyente Alfredo Peckson BRP Tinyente Simeon Castro BRP Tinyente Heracleo Alano BRP Kapitan Liberto Picar BRP Tinyente Hilario Ruiz BRP Tinyente Rafael Pargas BRP Tinyente Nestor Reinoso BRP Tinyente Dioscoro Papa BRP Tinyente Ismael Lomibao BRP Alferez Leovigildo Gantioqui BRP Alferez Federico Martir BRP Alferez Filipino Flojo BRP Alferez Anastacio Cacayorin BRP Alferez Manuel Gomez BRP Alferez Manuel Gomez BRP Alferez Teotimo Figoracion BRP Tinyente Jose Loor Sr. BRP Kapitan Emilio Liwanag BRP Alferez Florencio Inigo BRP Alferez Felix Apolinario BRP Kapitan Alberto Navarette BRP Kapitan Conrado Yap BRP Kapitan Jose Artiaga BRP Kapitan Vicente Evidente	1985-present	Philippines	Operational Construction done in batches: 10 in 1985, 10 in 1989, 5 in 1992
Komodor Juan Magluyan-class patrol craft (Haksaeng-class patrol boat)	"5 ships" BRP Komodor Juan Magluyan BRP Kapitan Leopoldo Regis BRP Alferez Apollo Tiano BRP Alferez Sulpicio Fernandez BRP Tinyente Leon Tadina	1993-present	Republic of Korea	Operational 12 ships originally, 7 ships decommissioned
Kumander Enrique Jurado-class patrol craft (Chamsuri-class patrol boat)	"10 ships" BRP Kumander Enrique Jurando BRP Kumander Loreta Danipog BRP Tinyente Nicanor Jimente BRP Tinyente Teodorico Dominado Jr. BRP Alferez Cosme Acosta BRP Alferez Albert Majini BRP Alferez Eldivino Caturas BRP Alferez Renato Caspillo BRP Tinyente Soriano Cajilis BRP Tinyente Kumander Custodio Parcon Jr.	1995-present	Republic of Korea/Philippines	Operational 8 ships were transferred, 7 constructed domestically 2 ships lost in separate accidents, 3 ships decommissioned
Praybayt Tomas Claudio-class patrol craft (Cyclone-class patrol boat)	"10 ships" BRP Praybayt Tomas Claudio BRP Magat Heneral Paulino Santos BRP Magat Heneral Fortunato Abat BRP Magat Heneral Tomas Karingal BRP Magat Heneral Mariano Castaneda Sr. BRP Brigadyer Heneral Vicente Lim BRP Tenyente Heneral Pelagio Cruz BRP Koronel Ruperto Kangleon BRP Tenyente Heneral Rafael Ileto BRP Magat Heneral Carlos Romulo	2000-present	United States/Philippines	Operational 1 ship transferred, 9 constructed domestically Five more planned
Kalakan Tomas Batillo-class minehunter (Lerici-class minehunter variant)	BRP Kalakan Tomas Batillo BRP Magat Emilio Liwanag BRP Magat Juan Pajota BRP	1988-present	Italy	Operational Ships local assembled
Koronel Jesus Villamor-class mine countermeasures vessel (Bedok-class mine countermeasures vessel variant)	"5 ships" BRP Koronel Jesus Villamor BRP Kapitan Heneral Manuel Yan Sr. BRP Koronel Manuel Segura BRP Himagat Ramon Bagatsing BRP Brigadyer Heneral Macario Peralta Jr.	2000-present	Philippines	Operational
Quezon-class logistics support vessel (Newport-class LSV)	BRP Laguna BRP Benguet	1975-present	United States	Operational Slated for retirement by 2015 4 ships originally, 1 ship lost in an accident, 1 ship decommissioned
Bacolod City-class logistics support vessel	BRP Bacolod City BRP Dagupan City	1993-present	Philippines	Operational
Tagbanua-class large landing craft	"5 ships" BRP Tagbanua BRP Manobo BRP Subanon BRP Bagobo BRP Tausug	1993-present	Philippines	Operational
Mayon-class strategic sealift vessel	BRP Mayon BRP Pinatubo	2016	Philippines	Under-construction
Landing Craft Mk.1	20 crafts	1993-present	Philippines	Operational PN developing Mk.2
Multi-Purpose Patrol Boat	30 crafts	1980-present	Philippines	Operational
Multi-Purpose Attack Craft	11 crafts	2009-present	Philippines	Operational Mk.1: 3 units, Mk.2: 8 units, (future) Mk.3: 42

Modernization[]

Historical[]

Bases[]

AFP Camps[]

Military Base	Location	Garrison	Notes
Camp Andres Bonifacio	Taguig City & Makati City, Metro Manila	Department of National Defense, AFP-General Headquarters, Joint Strategic Planning Command	Headquarters of the AFP; Other offices concerned with economics and logistics based here; Parts of Camp Bonifacio sold to private sector as part of Bases Conversion Act of 1992, known as "Fort Bonifacio" commercial district
Camp Ramon Magsaysay	Palayan City, Nueva Ecija	Joint Special Forces Command	JSFC principal training grounds and headquarters
Camp Rigoberto Atienza	Quezon City, Metro Manila	Philippine Reserves' Joint Command, National Defense College, 51st Engineering Brigade (PA), 10th Marine Sapper Battalion (PMC)	Largest military reserve in Metro Manila
Camp Antonio Luna	Malolos, Bulacan	Philippine Military Academy	Large military reserve that includes training facilities for all service branches
Camp Edilberto Evangelista	Limay, Bataan	Government Arsenal	State-owned defense manufacturer based here

PA Forts[]

Military base	Location	Garrison	Notes
Fort Emilio Aguinaldo	Quezon City, Metro Manila	Philippine Army	Headquarters of the PA
Fort Gregorio del Pilar	Baguio, Benguet	Philippine Army	Features heliport; Includes Gregorio del Pilar Park, American Residence, The Mansion
Fort Julian Felipe	Capas, Tarlac	Philippine Army	Military testing and exercise site; Features a detection & ranging facility

PN Naval Stations[]

Military base	Location	Garrison	Notes
Naval Station Jose Francisco	Manila City, Metro Manila	Philippine Navy	Headquarters of the PN; Adjacent to Miguel Malvar Barracks

PMC Barracks[]

Military base	Location	Garrison	Notes
Miguel Malvar Barracks	Manila City, Metro Manila	Philippine Marine Corps	Headquarters of the PMC; Adjacent to Naval Station Jose Francisco
Manuel Tinio Barracks	Laoag, Ilocos Norte	Philippine Marine Corps	Features naval and heliport accommodations

PAF Air Bases[]

Military base	Location	Garrison	Notes
Jesus Villamor Air Base	Paranaque City & Pasay City, Metro Manila	Philippine Air Force	Headquarters of the PAF; Shares runway with Ninoy Aquino International Airport; Ceased military operations, only carries out ceremonial duties, humanitarian operations, and VIP transport
Isidro Juan Paredes Air Base	Laoag, Ilocos Norte	Philippine Air Force	Shares runway with Laoag International Airport; Primarily used as a detection & ranging facility
Pelagio Cruz Air Base	Angeles City, Pampanga	Philippine Air Force	Reserves one dedicated runway at Pelagio Cruz International Airport