Armed Forces of the Philippines

Armed Forces of the Philippines
Original: Armed Forces of the Philippines Vector: Pbrks · Public domain · source
Name	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Native name	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Caption	Emblem of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Founded	January 11, 1899
Country	Philippines
Type	Armed forces
Role	National defense
Headquarters	Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City
Commander in chief	President of the Philippines
Chief of staff	General
Age	18
Manpower data	2024 est.
Active	~125,000
Reserve	~100,000
Amount	Defense budget

Contents

Armed Forces of the Philippines is the unified military force responsible for the defense of the Philippines including territorial integrity, maritime security, and internal stability. It evolved from revolutionary forces of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War into a national institution interacting with actors such as the United States Armed Forces, Japanese Imperial Army, United Nations Command, and regional neighbors like People's Republic of China and Republic of China (Taiwan). The force has participated in international engagements including United Nations peacekeeping missions and bilateral exercises such as Balikatan and US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement arrangements.

History

Origins trace to the Katipunan, Philippine Revolutionary Army, and leaders like Emilio Aguinaldo, linking to events such as the Declaration of Philippine Independence and the Malolos Republic. During the Philippine–American War and the era of the American colonial period, forces reorganized under the Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine Scouts. World War II saw the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the Battle of Bataan, Battle of Corregidor, and resistance tied to Douglas MacArthur and the Guerrilla movement in the Philippines. Postwar transformations involved the Republic of the Philippines constitution, the establishment of the modern armed forces, the Huks insurgency, the Korean War veterans’ legacies, and later conflicts such as the Moro conflict involving groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Abu Sayyaf. The People Power Revolution influenced civil-military relations, followed by democratization, coup attempts including the Oakwood mutiny, and participation in global counterterrorism efforts after September 11 attacks.

The institution is headed by the President of the Philippines as commander-in-chief and operationally led by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines supported by service chiefs of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force. Strategic guidance involves the Department of National Defense (Philippines), the National Security Council (Philippines), and legislative oversight from the Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives of the Philippines through budgetary and oversight mechanisms established under the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. Joint operations coordinate via the Philippine Joint Chiefs of Staff structures, regional commands such as AFP Southern Command, and interagency partners like the Philippine National Police and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Main branches are the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy (including the Philippine Marine Corps), and Philippine Air Force. The Army fields major units such as Infantry Division (Philippine Army), Armor (Philippine Army), and the Special Operations Command (Philippines). The Navy maintains fleets including the BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) class and the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) frigates, while the Marine Corps operates amphibious units and battalions like the 1st Marine Brigade (Philippines). The Air Force operates squadrons with aircraft such as Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, Fokker F27 Friendship, and patrol assets for the Benham Rise and Spratly Islands area. Other specialized formations include the Coast Guard (Philippines) (civil-military interface), the Reserve Command (Philippine Army), and unit-level decorations like the Gold Cross (Philippines).

Personnel numbers are influenced by policies from the Department of National Defense (Philippines) and recruitment programs tied to institutions like the Philippine Military Academy and Officer Candidate School (Philippines). Conscription has historically been debated with references to wartime measures like the National Defense Act of 1935 and discussions in the Senate of the Philippines and among officials such as former presidents and defense secretaries. Career paths include service members drawn from provinces such as Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon, with reserve mobilization informed by laws including the AFP Reservist Act and interactions with veteran organizations such as the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

Modernization programs have procured platforms from suppliers including the United States, South Korea, Israel, and France. Capabilities span land systems like M113 armored personnel carrier variants and artillery such as the M101 howitzer, naval assets including Hamilton-class cutter transfers and new frigates, and air systems like Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter upgrades and acquisitions such as FA-50 Fighting Eagle jets. Logistics and sustainment draw on facilities like Naval Base Cavite and airbases such as Villamor Air Base and Clark Air Base heritage. Cyber and space-awareness efforts reference partners such as Australian Defence Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces cooperation for domain awareness, with acquisition guided by the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

Operations include counterinsurgency campaigns against the New People's Army, counterterrorism operations targeting Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah affiliates, and maritime patrols in disputes over the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands involving incidents with the China Coast Guard and Vietnam People's Navy. Internationally, the force contributed to peacekeeping under United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor and partnered in exercises such as RIMPAC and Philippine-US Balikatan. Humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions have supported relief after events like Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), collaborating with actors including the International Committee of the Red Cross and United States Agency for International Development.