Editing Armed Forces of the Philippines (section)

==Organization and branches==
[[File:Philippine DND Building.jpg|thumb|right|[[Department of National Defense (Philippines)|Department of National Defense]] Building, [[Camp Aguinaldo]]]]

The [[Constitution of the Philippines|1987 Philippine Constitution]] placed the AFP under the control of a civilian, the [[President of the Philippines]], who acts as its [[Commander-in-Chief]]. All of its branches are part of the [[Department of National Defense (Philippines)|Department of National Defense]], which is headed by the [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Secretary of National Defense]].

The AFP has three major services:<ref>[http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=472 AFP Organization], [AFP website].</ref>

* [[Philippine Army]] (PA) – ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''
* [[Philippine Navy]] (PN) – ''Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas''
**[[Philippine Marine Corps]] (PMC) – ''Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas''
* [[Philippine Air Force]] (PAF) – ''Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas''

These three major services are unified under the [[Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines]] (CSAFP) who normally holds the rank of [[General]]/[[Admiral]]. The AFP Chief of Staff is primarily assisted by:

* The Vice Chief of Staff of the AFP (VCSAFP)
* The Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP (TDCSAFP)
Both normally holding the rank of [[Lieutenant General]]/[[Vice Admiral]].

The three highest posts of the AFP are also assisted by the Secretary Joint Staff (SJSAFP), who serves as the primary executive officer for the AFP Chief of Staff, the Vice Chief of Staff, and The Deputy Chief of Staff.

Each of the three major branches and key major commands are headed by an officer with the following titles:
* [[Commanding General of the Philippine Army]] (CG, PA) - [[Lieutenant General]]
* [[Flag Officer in-Command]] of the [[Philippine Navy]] (FOIC, PN) - [[Vice Admiral]]
* [[Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force]] (CG, PAF) - [[Lieutenant General]]
* Commander, Unified Commands ([[Lieutenant General]]/[[Vice Admiral]])
* Superintendent, [[Philippine Military Academy]] ([[Lieutenant General]]/[[Vice Admiral]])
* Inspector General ([[Lieutenant General]]/[[Vice Admiral]])
* Commander, AFP Intelligence Command ([[Lieutenant General]]/[[Vice Admiral]])

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the AFP is also assisted by the 10 following office holders carry the rank of [[Major General]]/[[Rear Admiral]], who serves as the members of the Joint Staff Divisions, at the General Headquarters in [[Camp Aguinaldo]]. These Joint Staff Divisions are also part of the Joint Staff, which is composed of the AFP Chief of Staff, the Vice Chief of Staff and The Deputy Chief of Staff.
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J1
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Organization & Training, J3
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, J4
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting Acquisition and Reconnaissance, J6
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, J7
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Education, Training and Doctrine, J8
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Retirees and Reservists Affairs, J9
* The Deputy Chief of Staff for Financial Management, J10

The AFP also comprises the Special Staff, which is divided into two separate groups. These groups also assist the AFP Chief on their designated fields:<ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://m.facebook.com/nt/screen/?params=%7B%22note_id%22%3A377320926969016%7D&path=%2Fnotes%2Fnote%2F&refsrc=deprecated&_rdr |website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref>
* The Administrative Staff:
**The Inspector General of the AFP (TIG) 
**The Adjutant General (TAG)
**The Judge Advocate General (TJAG)
**The Chief, Chaplain Service (TCCS)
**The Provost Marshal General (TPMG)
**The Chief, Special Services (TCSPS)
**The Chief, Historical Activities (TCHA)
**The Chief, Doctrines Development (TCDD)
* The Technical Staff:
**The Chief Engineer 
**The Chief for Ordnance and Chemical Service 
**The Quartermaster General
**The Surgeon General
**The Chief Nurse

The AFP Chief is also assisted by the following office commanding division-sized troops holders carry the rank of [[Major General]]/[[Rear Admiral]]:
* Army Division Commanders
* Naval Command Commanders
* Air Command Commanders
* The Commandant of the [[Philippine Marine Corps]]

On June 19, 2020, under the DND Order no. 174, the AFP had major changes in renaming its positions in high-ranking officials, such as the following:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1306237/ph-military-adopting-new-titles-chief-of-staff-now-joint-chiefs-chair/amp|title=PH military adopting new titles: Chief of staff now Joint Chiefs Chair|date=July 13, 2020 }}</ref>
* Chief of Staff of the AFP - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
* Vice Chief of Staff of the AFP - Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
* The Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP - Chief of the Joint Staff
* Commander, Unified Command - Joint Forces Commander, Unified Command
* Deputy Chief of Staff for (functional area) (J-staff) - Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff for (functional area) 
* [[Commanding General of the Philippine Army]] - Chief of the Army
* [[Flag Officer in-Command]] - Chief of the Navy
* [[Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force]] - Chief of the Air Force
However, the AFP has deferred these title changes a few months later as President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] revoked the usage of the position titles, and decided to maintain the traditional position titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/MaxDefense/posts/1316659208504733 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/117625771741422/1316659208504733 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=MaxDefense received confirmation that AFP has deferred the use of the new designation names, President has not yet approved the use of these|website=[[Facebook]]|date= July 26, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Unified commands===
Units from these three services may be assigned to one of six "Unified Commands" led by each Commander of the Unified Command; consisting of different branches from the three branches of the AFP, which are multi-service, regional entities. The Unified Commands are responsible in monitoring, securing and defending their specific geographical area of operations within the Philippines. There are currently six Unified Commands in the AFP, with each Commander of the Unified Commands hold the rank of [[Lieutenant General]]/[[Vice Admiral]], and reports directly to the office of the [[Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines]].<ref name="afporg">{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.mil.ph/org3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419074817/http://www.afp.mil.ph/org3.html |archive-date=April 19, 2008 |title=AFP Organization |access-date=February 3, 2008 }}</ref>
* [[AFP Northern Luzon Command|Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM)]] ([[Ilocos Region]], [[Cordillera Administrative Region]], [[Cagayan Valley]], and [[Central Luzon]], including the [[Scarborough Shoal]] and the [[Benham Rise]])
* [[AFP Southern Luzon Command|Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM)]] ([[Calabarzon]]; [[Mimaropa]] excluding [[Palawan]], and [[Bicol Region]])
* [[AFP Visayas Command|Visayas Command (VISCOM)]] ([[Western Visayas]], [[Central Visayas]], [[Eastern Visayas]])
* [[AFP Western Command|Western Command (WESCOM)]] ([[Palawan]] and the [[Spratly Islands]])
* [[AFP Eastern Mindanao Command|Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM)]] ([[Davao Region]], [[Soccsksargen]], and the [[Caraga]] regions)
* [[AFP Western Mindanao Command|Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM)]] ([[Zamboanga Peninsula]], [[Northern Mindanao]], and the [[Bangsamoro|BARMM]])

====Commanders, Unified Commands====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!colspan=2|[[AFP Northern Luzon Command|Commander, AFP Northern Luzon Command]]
!Appointed
!Branch
|-
| 
| [[Lieutenant General]] Fernyl G. Buca<ref name="First NOLCOM Commander from PAF assumes">{{cite news |title=First NOLCOM Commander from PAF assumes |url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/2023/01/25/first-nolcom-commander-from-paf-assumes |work=PIA}}</ref>
| January 25, 2023<br /> <small>({{Age in years and days|2023|1|25}})</small>
| [[File:Seal of the Philippine Air Force.svg|60x60px]] <br /> [[Philippine Air Force]]
|-
!colspan=2|[[AFP Southern Luzon Command|Commander, AFP Southern Luzon Command]]
!Appointed
!Branch
|-
| 
| [[Lieutenant General]] Facundo O. Palafox IV <ref name="AFP: Palafox takes helm at Southern Luzon Command">{{cite news |last1=Sadongdong |first1=Martin |title=AFP: Palafox takes helm at Southern Luzon Command |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/2/afp-palafox-takes-helm-at-southern-luzon-command}}</ref>
| March 3, 2024 <br /> <small>({{Age in years and days|2024|03|03}})</small> 
| [[File:Philippine Army Seal.svg|60x60px]] <br /> [[Philippine Army]]
|-
!colspan=2|[[AFP Visayas Command|Commander, AFP Visayas Command]] 
!Appointed
!Branch
|-
| 
| [[Lieutenant General]] Fernando M. Reyeg<ref name="AFP Visayas Command gets new head">{{cite web |last1=Beltran |first1=Roger |title=AFP Visayas Command gets new head |url=https://visayandailystar.com/afp-visayas-command-gets-new-head/ |website=Visayan Daily Star |date=24 April 2024}}</ref><ref name="New head of military’s Visayas Command named">{{cite web |last1=Reyes |first1=Victor |title=New head of military's Visayas Command named |url=https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/new-head-of-militarys-visayas-command-named/ |website=malaya.com.ph |date=24 April 2024}}</ref>
| April 24, 2024 <br /> <small>({{Age in years and days|2024|04|24}})</small> 
| [[File:Philippine Army Seal.svg|60x60px]] <br /> [[Philippine Army]]
|-
!colspan=2|[[AFP Western Command|Commander, AFP Western Command]]
!Appointed
!Branch
|-
| 
| [[Vice Admiral]] Alfonso F. Torres Jr.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dava |first1=Bianca |title=Carlos out as Wescom chief; Torres assumes post |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/18/carlos-out-as-wescom-chief-torres-assumes-post-1120 |website=ABS-CBN |date=18 May 2024}}</ref>
| May 18, 2024 <br /> <small>({{Age in years and days|2024|5|18}})</small>
| [[File:Seal of the Philippine Navy.png|60x60px]] <br /> [[Philippine Navy]]
|-
!colspan=2|[[AFP Eastern Mindanao Command|Commander, AFP Eastern Mindanao Command]]
!Appointed
!Branch
|-
| 
| [[Lieutenant General]] Luis Rex D. Bergante <ref name="AFP installs new EASTMINCOM commander">{{cite web |title=AFP installs new EASTMINCOM commander |url=https://www.afp.mil.ph/news/afp-installs-new-eastmincom-commander |website=www.afp.mil.ph}}</ref><ref name="Bergante named new Eastmincom commander">{{cite web |last1=Francisquete |first1=David Ezra M. |title=Bergante named new Eastmincom commander |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/bergante-named-new-eastmincom-commander |website=SunStar Publishing Inc. |language=en |date=10 June 2024}}</ref>
| June 7, 2024 <br /> <small>({{Age in years and days|2024|6|7}})</small> 
| [[File:Philippine Army Seal.svg|60x60px]] <br /> [[Philippine Army]]
|-
!colspan=2|[[Western Mindanao Command|Commander, AFP Western Mindanao Command]] 
!Appointed
!Branch
|-
| 
| [[Lieutenant General]] Antonio G. Nafarrete<ref name="AFP designates 6ID chief as Westmincom acting commander">{{cite news |last1=Zamboanga |first1=SunStar |title=AFP designates 6ID chief as Westmincom acting commander |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/afp-designates-6id-chief-as-westmincom-acting-commander |work=SunStar Publishing Inc. |date=21 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
| November 20, 2024 <br /> <small>({{Age in years and days|2024|11|20}})</small>
| [[File:Philippine Army Seal.svg|60x60px]] <br /> [[Philippine Army]]
|}

===AFP-wide service support and separate units===
Several organization-wide support services and separate units report directly to the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Headquarters (AFP GHQ). The units are the:

* AFP General Headquarters & Headquarters Service Command (GHQ & HSC)
* [[AFP Joint Task Force-National Capital Region]] (AFP JTF-NCR)
* [[Presidential Security Group]] (PSG)
* [[Philippine Military Academy]] (PMA)
* AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC). The organizations under it include:
** [[Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College]] (AFPCGSC)
** [[Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Candidate School|AFP Officer Candidate School]]
* AFP Health Service Command. The organizations under it include:
** [[Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center]] (AFPMC)
** Armed Forces of the Philippines Dental Service Center (AFPDSC)
* [[Special Operations Command (Philippines)|AFP Special Operations Command (AFPSOCOM)]]
* [[Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command|AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM)]]
* AFP Commissary and Exchange Service (AFPCES)
* Civil Relations Service, AFP (CRSAFP)
* Communications, Electronics and Information System Service, AFP (CEISSAFP)
* Intelligence Service, AFP (ISAFP)
* [[Counterintelligence Group|Counterintelligence Group (CIG)]]
* AFP Doctrine Development Center (AFPDDC)
* AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center (AFP-PKOC)
* [[Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit]] (CAFGU)
* AFP Intelligence Command<ref>{{cite news |last1= Argosino  |first1= Faith|title=New AFP unit to boost military's intelligence capabilities |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2001730/new-afp-unit-aims-to-boost-militarys-intelligence-capabilities |accessdate=November 6, 2024 |newspaper= [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|date=November 6, 2024}}</ref>

===Former branches===
The [[Philippine Constabulary]] (PC) was a [[gendarmerie]] type military-police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority, replacing the [[Civil Guard (Philippines)|Guardia Civil]] of the Spanish colonial regime. On December 13, 1990, Republic Act No. 6975 was approved, organizing the [[Philippine National Police]] (PNP) consisting of the members of the [[Integrated National Police]] (INP) and the officers and enlisted personnel of the PC. Upon the effectivity of that Act, the PC ceased to be a major service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the INP ceased to be the national police and civil defense force.<ref>[http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno6975.html Republic Act No. 6975] (approved December 13, 1990), Chan Robles Law Library.</ref> On January 29, 1991, the PC and the INP were formally retired and the PNP was activated in their place.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120614131721/http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240708/philippine-national-police-19th-anniversary Philippine National Police 19th Anniversary] (January 28, 2010), Manila Bulletin (archived from [http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240708/philippine-national-police-19th-anniversary the original] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614131721/http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/240708/philippine-national-police-19th-anniversary |date=June 14, 2012 }} on June 14, 2012).</ref>

The [[Philippine Coast Guard]] (PCG) is also another attached agency to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but due to the civilian nature of the PCG functions led to the separation of the Coast Guard from the Philippine Navy on March 30, 1998, by virtue of Executive Order 475 signed by President Fidel Ramos. The Order effectively transferred the PCG from the Department of National Defense to the Office of the President, and eventually to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on April 15, 1998, by virtue of Executive Order 477.

===Defunct former commands===
* [[AFP NCR Command|National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM)]]
* Eastern Command
* Central Luzon Command (CELCOM)
* Central Mindanao Command (CENMINCOM)
* [[AFP Southern Command|Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)]]
* Home Defense Command (HDC)
* Internal Defense Command (IDC)
* National Development Support Command (NADESCOM)