Editing Armed Forces of the Philippines (section)

==History==
{{Main|Military History of the Philippines|Warfare in pre-colonial Philippines}}
Pre-colonial Philippines maintained local militia groups under the [[barangay]] system. Reporting to the [[datu]], these groups, aside from maintaining order in their communities, also served as their defense forces. With the arrival of Islam, the system of defense forces in the Mindanao region's sultanates under Muslim control mirrored those other existing sultanates in the region. These local warriors who were in the service of the Sultan were also responsible to qualified male citizens appointed by him.
[[File:Philippine uniform 1780.jpg|thumb|339x339px|Designs of 20 uniforms of the Infantry Troop, Dragoons and Cavalry of the Philippines. 1780.]]
During the Spanish colonial period, the Spanish Army was responsible for the defense and general order of the archipelago in the land, while the Spanish Navy conducts maritime policing in the seas as well as providing naval logistics to the Army. The Guardia Civil took police duties and maintaining public order in villages and towns. In the early years of Spanish colonial era, most of the formations of the army were composed of conquistadors backed with native auxiliaries. By the 18th and 19th centuries, line infantry and cavalry formations were created composed of mixed Spanish and Filipino personnel, as well as volunteer battalions composed of all-Filipino volunteers during the later half of the 19th Century. Units from other colonies were also levied to augment the existing formations in the Philippines. Almost all of the formations of the Spanish Army in the archipelago participated in the local religious uprisings between 17th and 19th centuries, and in the [[Philippine Revolution]] in 1896 fighting against the revolutionary forces. At the peak of the revolution, some Filipinos and a few Spaniards in the Spanish Army, Guardia Civil, and Navy defected to the [[Philippine Revolutionary Army]].
[[File:Aguinaldo's aides.jpg|left|thumb|273x273px|General [[Emilio Aguinaldo]]'s aides wearing [[Rayadillo|''Rayadillo'']] and white drill military uniforms.]]
The Spanish [[cession]] of the Philippines in the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|1898 Treaty of Paris]] put the independence of the newly declared Southeast Asian republic in grave danger. The revolutionaries were fighting desperately as the American forces already landed in other islands and had taken over towns and villages. The Americans established the [[Philippine Constabulary]] in 1901 manned by Filipino fighters and used against Gen. Aguinaldo who was later captured.

On April 9, 1902, Philippine President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] proclaimed that the Philippine–American War had ended on April 16, 1902, with the surrender of General [[Miguel Malvar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2002/04/16/speech-of-president-arroyo-during-the-commemoration-of-the-centennial-celebration-of-the-end-of-the-philippine-american-war/|title=Speech of President Arroyo during the Commemoration of the Centennial Celebration of the end of the Philippine-American War April 16, 2002|work=Official Gazette|date=April 16, 2002 |publisher=Government of the Philippines}}</ref>

Since the beginning of American rule in the Philippines, the United States Army had taken the responsibility for the defense of the country in the land, and the United States Navy in the seas until the passage of the National Defense Act of 1935 which called for a separate defense force for the Philippines.

===Creation and the Commonwealth Era===
[[File:Philippine Commonwealth Army personnel.JPG|thumb|282x282px|Philippine Commonwealth Army personnel]]
In accordance with the [[National Defense Act of 1935]], the ''Armed Forces of the Philippines'' was officially established on December 21, 1935, when the act entered into force.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1935/12/21/commonwealth-act-no-1/|title=Commonwealth Act No. 1|date=December 21, 1935 }}</ref> Retired U.S. General [[Douglas MacArthur]] was asked to supervise its foundation and training. MacArthur accepted the offer and became a Field Marshal of the Philippines, a rank no other person has since held.<ref>See for example {{cite book|last=Manchester|first=William|author-link=William Manchester|title=[[American Caesar|American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880–1964]]|publisher=Little, Brown|location=Boston|year= 1978|isbn=0-440-30424-5|oclc=3844481}}</ref> [[Jean MacArthur]], his wife, found the situation amusing and remarked that her husband had gone from holding the highest rank in the United States Army to holding the highest rank in a non-existent army. [[Manuel L. Quezon|President Quezon]] officially conferred the title of Field Marshal on MacArthur in a ceremony at [[Malacañan Palace]] on August 24, 1936, when he appeared with a gold [[Baton (military)|marshal's baton]] and a unique uniform.<ref name=James1970>{{cite book
|last=James
|first=D. Clayton
|title=The Years of MacArthur, Volume 1: 1880-1941
|publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|Houghton Mifflin]]
|location=Boston
|year=1970
|page=505
|isbn=0-395-10948-5
|oclc=60070186
}}</ref>

The Army of the Philippines included naval and air assets directly reporting to Army headquarters, and the Philippine Constabulary, later part of the ground forces proper as a division. In 1938 the Constabulary Division was separated from the army and reorganized into a national police force.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1938/06/23/commonwealth-act-no-343/|title=Commonwealth Act No. 343 AN ACT TO ABOLISH THE STATE POLICE FORCE, TO REORGANIZE THE PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY INTO A NATIONAL POLICE FORCE AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR|date=June 23, 1938}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1938/06/23/executive-order-no-153-s-1938/|title=Executive Ordef No. 153 s. 1938 Reorganizing the Philippine Constabulary into a National Police Force|date=June 23, 1938}}</ref>

The administration of the military throughout the islands was divided into ten "military districts."<ref name="Schaefer2004">{{Cite book |last=Schaefer |first=Chris |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58386735 |title=Bataan diary : an American family in World War II, 1941-1945 |date=2004 |publisher=Riverview Pub |isbn=0-9761084-0-2 |location=Houston, Tex |oclc=58386735}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Military District
! Areas Covered
|-
|1st
|North Luzon
|-
|2nd
|Lingayen and the Central Plain
|-
|3rd
|East Central Luzon, Bataan, and Zambales
|-
|4th
|South Central Luzon, including Manila, Batangas, Palawan, and Mindoro
|-
|5th
|East and Southeast Luzon and Catanduanes
|-
|6th
|Tablas, Panay, and Marinduque
|-
|7th
|Negros
|-
|8th
|Bohol and Cebu
|-
|9th
|Samar and Leyte
|-
|10th
|Mindanao and Sulu
|}

MacArthur expanded the Army of the Philippines with the revival of the Navy in 1940 and the formation of the [[Philippine Army Air Corps]] (formerly the Philippine Constabulary Air Corps), but they were not ready for combat at the start of the [[Pacific War]] in December 1941 and unable to defeat the 1941–42 Japanese invasion of the [[Philippines]].

===World War II===
[[File:Cap. Juan Pajota.JPG|thumb|Captain [[Juan Pajota]].]]
In 1940–41, most soldiers of the Philippine military were incorporated in the [[U.S. Army Forces Far East]] (USAFFE), with MacArthur appointed as its commander. USAFFE made its last stand on [[Corregidor]] Island, after which Japanese forces were able to force all remaining Filipino and American troops to surrender. The establishment of the general headquarters of the [[Philippine Commonwealth Army]] are military station went to the province during the occupation. Those who survived the invasion but escaped from the Japanese formed the basis of recognized guerrilla units and ongoing local military force of the [[Philippine Commonwealth Army]] that continued the fighting against the enemy all over the islands. The [[Philippine Constabulary]] went on active service under the Armed Forces of the Philippines during liberation.

===After independence===
{{see also|History of the Philippines (1946–1965)}}
After [[Japan]] was defeated in World War II, the Philippines gained its independence in 1946. (This was its second independence after the [[Philippine Declaration of Independence]] in 1898).

The pre-war military districts briefly continued to be used for administering the military,<ref name="Schaefer2004"/> until they were reorganized into Military Area Commands in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://pro7.pnp.gov.ph/history/ |website=pro7.pnp.gov.ph}}</ref> In 1947 the modern AFP first emerged with the upgrade of the PAAC to the [[Philippine Air Force]].

1950 saw the creation of the [[Philippine Marine Corps]], a naval infantry force under the command of the Philippine Navy, after then-Defense Secretary [[Ramon Magsaysay]] ordered Commodore [[Ramon A. Alcaraz|Ramon Alcaraz]] to go to study the organization of the U.S. Marines. Alcaraz recommended the creation of the new service, earning him the distinction of being the "Father" of the [[Philippine Marine Corps]].<ref name="OfficialGazetteBRPAlcaraz2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/08/06/briefer-on-ramon-alcaraz/ |title=Briefer on Ramon Alcaraz |work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=May 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526154909/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/08/06/briefer-on-ramon-alcaraz/ |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |url-status=live |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the [[Korean War]] from 1951 to 1953, the Philippines sent various AFP battalions, known as the [[Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea]] (PEFTOK) to fight as part of the US-led [[United Nations Command]] in liberating [[South Korea]] from the invading North Korean troops.

Throughout this time, the AFP had been in conflict with various elements of the [[Hukbalahap]] which, still known as the "huks", were reconstituted as the ''Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan'' ("Peoples' Liberation Army")the armed wing of the Marxist–Leninist [[Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas]] of 1930 (PKP-1930). This conflict effectively ended in 1954, with the huks becoming a spent force during the presidency of [[Ramon Magsaysay]].<ref name="Saulo">{{Cite book |last=Saulo |first=Alfredo |title=Communism in the Philippines: An Introduction |date=1990 |publisher=Ateneo de Manila University Press |isbn=971-550-403-5 |location=Quezon City}}</ref>{{rp|44}}

In 1966, an AFP battalion was also sent into [[South Vietnam]] during the [[Vietnam War]] to ameliorate the economic and social conditions of its people there. AFP units were also sent at the same time to the [[Spratly Islands]].

1963 would see the first women join the ranks of the armed forces with the raising of the Women's Auxiliary Corps.

===Martial law===
{{main|Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos}}
President [[Ferdinand Marcos]] sought to have a strong personal influence over the Armed Forces as soon as he became president in 1965,<ref name="ParladeThesis">{{Cite book |last=Parlade |first=Antonio G. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/975223979 |title=An Analysis Of The Communist Insurgency In The Philippines. |publisher=Pickle Partners Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-78625-282-1 |location=San Francisco |oclc=975223979}}</ref><ref name="Celoza1997">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sp3U1oCNKlgC&q=celoza+sagittarius+soliman&pg=PA32 |title=Ferdinand Marcos and the Philippines: The Political Economy of Authoritarianism |last=Celoza |first=Albert F. |date=1997 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=9780275941376 }}</ref>{{rp|page="32"}} holding on to the portfolio of defense secretary in the first thirteen months of his presidency<ref name="Kasaysayan9ch10">{{Cite book |title=Kasaysayan, The Story of the Filipino People Volume 9:A Nation Reborn |publisher=Asia Publishing Company Limited |year=1998 |editor-last=Magno |editor-first=Alexander R. |location=Hong Kong |chapter=Democracy at the Crossroads}}</ref> to develop what scholars have noted to be "a patronage system within the defense establishment."<ref name="Lee2015">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ob1TBgAAQBAJ&q=ilocanization+generals&pg=PA81 |title=Defect Or Defend: Military Responses to Popular Protests in Authoritarian Asia |last=Lee |first=Terence |date=January 2, 2015 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=9781421415161 }}</ref> The portfolio afforded him direct interaction with the AFP's leadership, and to have a hand in the AFP's day-to-day operationalization.<ref name="Berlin1982">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5z01nwEACAAJ |title=Prelude to Martial Law: An Examination of Pre-1972 Philippine Civil-military Relations |last=Berlin |first=Donald Lane |date=1982 }}</ref>

Upon the declaration of [[Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos|martial law]] in 1972, Marcos used the AFP as what the [[Davide Commission Report]] would later call his "martial law implementor,"<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/> and "one of the vital supports of the regime."<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/> Upon the announcement of Martial Law in 1972, one of their earliest tasks was that of quickly arresting and containing Marcos' political opponents,<ref name="OfficialGazetteDeclaration">{{cite web |url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph:80/featured/declaration-of-martial-law/ |title=Declaration of Martial Law |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708065018/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/declaration-of-martial-law/ |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 9, 2018 }}</ref> and Marcos' hold on power was effectively broken once enough of the Military withdrew their support from him in February 1986.<ref name="ABSCBNRamosEnrile">{{Cite news |date=February 22, 2016 |title=30 years ago today: Enrile, Ramos withdraw support for Marcos |language=en |publisher=ABS-CBN News |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/focus/02/22/16/30-years-ago-today-enrile-ramos-withdraw-support-for-marcos |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref> Antonio Parlade notes that to get the military to ensure their cooperation, Marcos "had to expand the military organization and patronize the generals to buy their loyalty."<ref name="ParladeThesis"/><ref name="ParladeVeraFiles">{{Cite news |title=The military's obsession with UP: some historical notes |language=en |work=[[Vera Files]] |url=https://verafiles.org/articles/militarys-obsession-some-historical-notes |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>

Marcos oversaw a significant expansion of the AFP, which grew from a force of 57,100 in 1971 to a 97.89 percent increase of 113,000 personnel in 1976 - a significant increase of over a five-year period.<ref name="Davide Commission Report">{{cite web |date=October 3, 1990 |title=II: Political Change and Military Transmition in the Philippines, 1966 – 1989: From the Barracks to the Corridors of Power |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/10/03/the-final-report-of-the-fact-finding-commission-ii-political-change-and-military-transmition-in-the-philippines-1966-1989-from-the-barracks-to-the-corridors-of-power/ |access-date=July 30, 2021 |website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines}}</ref> He also increased the military budget from P880 million in 1972 to P4 billion in 1976.<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/> Marcos also instituted the AFP Self Reliance Defense Posture (SRDP) program, which was supposed to enable the AFP to construct its own weapons, tanks, armored vehicles, ships, gunboats, and aircraft locally instead of buying from foreign sources.<ref>De Castro, Renato Cruz, Ph.D. The Dilemma Between Democratic. Control versus Military Reforms: The Case of the AFP Modernisation. Program, 1991-2004. https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/jssm/jssm_3_1/jssm_3_1_car01.pdf</ref> This included{{Citation needed|reason=source does not specify that the Sta Barbara project was part of the SRDP.|date=August 2021}} "[[Project Santa Barbara]]" under the Philippine Navy, which saw the testing of the [[Bongbong (rocket)|Bongbong II]] [[Multiple rocket launcher|MLRS]] - named after Marcos' son - in 1972. However, the project was discontinued before the Marcos administration ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kbl.org.ph/what-is-a-santa-barbara-project/|title=Santa Barbara Project – The Classified Missile Project of the Philippines|website=kbl.org.ph}}</ref>{{Undue weight inline|reason=this paragraph should cover the whole SRDP program, not just one technology.|date=August 2021}}{{Better source needed|date=March 2021}}

The military was given many functions aside from its task of national defense, including assisting in the implementation of price controls imposed on key products like corn and rice, enforcing the rules of the national corn procurement program, assisting in the collection of rural and government bank loans, implementing the agrarian reform law, and various police functions such as collecting unlicensed firearms and enforcing curfews, and suppressing strikes, rallies, and other demonstrations.<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/>

Marcos carried out the "largest reshuffle in the history of the armed forces" when he forcibly retired fourteen of the AFP's twenty-five flag officers, including the AFP Chief of Staff, the AFP Vice Chief of Staff, the commanding general of the Philippine Army, the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary, the commanders of all four Constabulary Zones, and one third of all Provincial Commanders of the PC.<ref name="DavideCommission1990">{{Cite periodical |last1=Davide |first1=Hilario G. Jr. |author-link=Hilario Davide Jr. |last2=Romulo |first2=Ricardo J. |last3=Legaspi |first3=Leonardo Z. |last4=Hernandez |first4=Carolina G. |last5=Lazaro |first5=Delfin L. |title=The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: II: Political Change and Military Transmition in the Philippines, 1966 – 1989: From the Barracks to the Corridors of Power |url=http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/10/03/the-final-report-of-the-fact-finding-commission-ii-political-change-and-military-transmition-in-the-philippines-1966-1989-from-the-barracks-to-the-corridors-of-power/ |periodical=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines |via=Republic of the Philippines National Government Portal (Gov.ph)}}</ref> Other key officers critical of Marcos, such as Commodore [[Ramon A. Alcaraz|Ramon Alcaraz]], were compelled to leave the service.<ref name="OfficialGazetteBRPAlcaraz2013"/> In their place, Marcos appointed officers from his home region, the Ilocos, the most significant of whom had familial connections to Marcos – ensuring their familial and regionalistic loyalties to him.<ref name="Berlin1982"/><ref name="Lee2015"/>

Among the most prominent such appointments were that of General [[Fabian Ver]] as commander of the Presidential Security Command in 1965, and AFP chief of staff in 1981;<ref name="JodeszGavilan20200921">{{Cite news |last=GAVILAN |first=JODESZ |date=September 21, 2020 |title=Marcos and his men: Who were the key Martial Law figures? |language=en |work=[[Rappler]] |url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/marcos-martial-law-key-martial-figures |access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NYTVer1984">{{Cite news |date=October 25, 1984 |title=A FILIPINO ON THE SPOT |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/25/world/a-filipino-on-the-spot.html |access-date=August 5, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Juan Ponce Enrile]] as Secretary of Defense from 1970 to 1986;<ref name="JodeszGavilan20200921"/> and General [[Fidel Ramos]] as chief for the Philippine Constabulary, and later as Armed Forces Vice Chief from 1981 to 1986.<ref name="JodeszGavilan20200921"/>

Generals loyal to Marcos were allowed to stay in their positions past their supposed retirement age, or were rewarded with civilian government posts.<ref name="GovPh29thNinoyAnniv">{{cite web |url=http://president.gov.ph/gov_at_work/phl-marks-29th-anniversary-of-aquinos-assassination-on-tuesday/ |title=PHL marks 29th anniversary of Aquino's assassination on Tuesday |date=August 20, 2012 |publisher=Office of the President of the Philippines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208022821/http://president.gov.ph/gov_at_work/phl-marks-29th-anniversary-of-aquinos-assassination-on-tuesday/ |archive-date=February 8, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This led to a loss of morale among the middle-ranks of the AFP, because it meant a significant slowdown in promotions and caused many officers to retire with ranks much lower than they would otherwise have earned.<ref name="Berlin1982"/><ref name="DavideCommission1990"/>

Several cabals of dissatisfied officers eventually formed among the middle-ranks of the AFP, most notably the [[Reform the Armed Forces Movement]] in the early 1980s.<ref name="DavideCommission1990"/>

The Marcos administration is thus considered to have marked a decline for AFP in terms of its traditional values of civilian supremacy and professionalism,<ref name="Lim2011CESRAN">{{Cite journal |last=Richard |first=Lim |date=March 2011 |title=Civil-Military Relations in Marcos' Philippines |url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/wps/cesran%20%20%20/0032274/f_0032274_26266.pdf |journal=CESRAN Papers |publisher=Centre for Strategic Research and Analysis (CESRAN) |volume=2}}</ref><ref name="secgovcentressrbriefer">{{cite web |title=Backgrounder – Security sector reform, professionalization and the shift to external defense in the Philippines |url=https://secgovcentre.org/2015/12/backgrounder-security-sector-reform-professionalization-and-the-shift-to-external-defense-in-the-philippines/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026065647/http://secgovcentre.org/2015/12/backgrounder-security-sector-reform-professionalization-and-the-shift-to-external-defense-in-the-philippines/ |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |access-date=August 2, 2021 |website=Centre for Security Governance |language=en-CA}}</ref> leading to a need for security sector reform during later administrations,<ref name="secgovcentressrbriefer" /> as per the recommendations of the [[Davide Commission]] in 1990 and the Feliciano Commission in 2003.<ref name="NDCPCruzSSR">{{Cite journal |last=Cruz |first=Rodel A. |date=2013 |title=Security Sector Reform: Way Forward for Democracy and Development |url=http://www.ndcp.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/publications/CRUZ_Security%20Sector%20Reform%20Way%20Forward%20for%20Democracy%20and%20Development.pdf |url-status=live |journal=National Security Review |publisher=National Defense College of the Philippines |volume=December |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501083036/http://www.ndcp.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/publications/CRUZ_Security%20Sector%20Reform%20Way%20Forward%20for%20Democracy%20and%20Development.pdf |archive-date=May 1, 2020 |access-date=September 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Oreta |first=Jennifer Santiago |date=January 9, 2018 |title=The Security Reform Agenda for the AFP and PNP in 2018 - Blueboard by|url=http://ateneo.edu/ls/news/research/security-reform-agenda-afp-and-pnp-2018-blueboard-jennifer-santiago-oreta |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111010424/http://ateneo.edu/ls/news/research/security-reform-agenda-afp-and-pnp-2018-blueboard-jennifer-santiago-oreta |archive-date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=September 5, 2021 |website=Ateneo de Manila University |language=en}}</ref>

Civilian<ref name="McCoy199909202">{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/062.html|title=Alfred McCoy, Dark Legacy: Human rights under the Marcos regime|date=September 20, 1999|publisher=[[Ateneo de Manila University]]}}</ref><ref name="Abinales&Amoroso20052">{{Cite book|title=State and society in the Philippines|last=N.|first=Abinales, P.|date=2005|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-0742510234|location=Lanham, MD|oclc=57452454}}</ref> and military<ref name="ParladeThesis"/> historians alike agree that "[[Human rights abuses during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos|human rights abuses]] by the troops became rampant"<ref name="ParladeThesis"/><ref name="ParladeVeraFiles"/> during the Marcos administration,<ref name="ParladeThesis"/> as documented by international monitoring entities such as [[Amnesty International]].<ref name="RachelAGReyes201604122">{{cite web|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/3257-fact-checking-the-marcos-killings-1975-1985/255735/|title=3,257: Fact checking the Marcos killings, 1975-1985 - The Manila Times Online|website=www.manilatimes.net|language=en-US|access-date=June 15, 2018|date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> Units often specifically cited in these reported incidents include the [[Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group|Metrocom Intelligence and Security Group (MISG)]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/146867-look-back-philippine-constabulary-marcos|title=LOOK BACK: The Philippine Constabulary under Marcos|work=Rappler|access-date=June 18, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and the 5th Constabulary Security Unit (5CSU)<ref name="McCoyPolicing">{{Cite book|title=Policing America's empire : the United States, the Philippines, and the rise of the surveillance state|last=W.|first=McCoy, Alfred|date=2009|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|isbn=9780299234133|location=Madison, Wis.|oclc=550642875}}</ref> of the [[Philippine Constabulary]],<ref name="AI1975">{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa35/019/1977/en/|title=Report of an AI Mission to the Republic of the Philippines 1975|website=Amnesty International|date=September 1976 }}</ref> as well as the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).<ref name="MMLNA">{{Cite book|title=Marcos Martial Law: Never Again|last=Robles|first=Raissa|publisher=FILIPINOS FOR A BETTER PHILIPPINES , INC|year=2016}}</ref> The Presidential Security Unit and the [[National Intelligence and Security Agency (Philippines)|National Intelligence and Security Agency]] (NISA) were also accused of aiding these activities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/25/world/a-filipino-on-the-spot.html|title=A FILIPINO ON THE SPOT|newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 25, 1984 |access-date=June 18, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Aside from human rights abuses, these units were also accused of hounding media entities,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rosenberg|first=David A.|date=1974|title=Civil Liberties and the Mass Media under Martial Law in the Philippines|journal=Pacific Affairs|volume=47|issue=4|pages=472–484|doi=10.2307/2755948|jstor=2755948}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1982/12/08/085203.html|title=MANILA NEWSPAPER CLOSED BY MARCOS|work=The New York Times |access-date=June 18, 2018|language=en}}</ref> corporate management,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph/2006/07/02/the-one-that-got-away/|title=The One That Got Away {{!}} Newsbreak {{!}} Independent Journalism|website=archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph|language=en-US|access-date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709154512/http://archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph/2006/07/02/the-one-that-got-away/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and opposition groups<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://library.law.hawaii.edu/2017/09/07/the-haunting-of-martial-law-records-from-the-marcos-regime/|title=The Haunting of Martial Law: Records from the Marcos Regime|date=September 7, 2017|work=UH School of Law Library|access-date=June 18, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> with threats, intimidation, and violence.

The Marcos administration also marked the beginnings of at least two long-running conflicts that continued to plague later administrations: the Moro conflict and the [[New People's Army]] conflict.<ref name="asiafoundationpdf">{{cite web |title=Philippines: State of Conflict and Violence |url=https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Philippines-StateofConflictandViolence.pdf |url-status=live |website=The Asia Foundation Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908052334/https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Philippines-StateofConflictandViolence.pdf |archive-date=September 8, 2018 }}</ref>

The [[Moro conflict]], began in earnest in 1968 when short-lived organizations such as the [[Muslim Independence Movement]] and the [[Bangsamoro Liberation Organization]] formed in reaction to news about the [[Jabidah Massacre]],<ref name="BetweenIntegrationandSecession">{{Cite book|title = Between Integration and Secession: The Muslim Communities of the Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand and Western Burma/Myanmar|last = Yegar|first = Moshe|publisher = Lexington Books|year = 2002|pages = 267–268}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Fallon|first=Joseph E.|title=Igorot and Moro National Reemergence|journal=Fourth World Journal|volume=2|issue=1|date=August 1989|access-date=September 5, 2007|url=http://www.cwis.org/fwj/21/imnr.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070818181333/http://www.cwis.org/fwj/21/imnr.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = August 18, 2007}}</ref><ref name="TessVitug20130318">{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/24025-jabidah-massacre-merdeka-sabah|title=Jabidah and Merdeka: The inside story|author1=Marites Dañguilan Vitug|author2=Glenda M. Gloria|publisher=[[Rappler]]|date=March 18, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913010948/http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/24025-jabidah-massacre-merdeka-sabah|archive-date=September 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> with many of their forces eventually coalescing as the [[Moro National Liberation Front]] was formed in 1972.<ref name="asiafoundationpdf"/><ref name="BetweenIntegrationandSecession"/>

Meanwhile, the [[Communist Party of the Philippines]] (CPP) was formed in 1968, while the [[New People's Army]] (NPA), founded in 1969,<ref name="asiafoundationpdf"/> grew nationwide to a 200,000 strong force.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

===EDSA Revolution===
{{see also|People Power Revolution}}
Due to what was popularly believed to be electoral fraud during the [[1986 Philippine presidential election]],<ref name="malacanangmuseumelection">{{cite web |title=Elections of 1986 |url=http://malacanang.gov.ph/74713-elections-of-1986/ |access-date=August 4, 2021 |website=Malacanang Presidential Museum and Library |language=en-US |archive-date=June 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621073524/http://malacanang.gov.ph/74713-elections-of-1986/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> February 1986 saw a period of uncertainty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speech of President Aquino at the anniversary of Tagumpay ng Bayan, February 16, 2012 (English translation)|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/02/16/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-anniversary-of-tagumpay-ng-bayan-february-16-2012-english-translation/|url-status=live|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|date=February 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518094855/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/02/16/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-anniversary-of-tagumpay-ng-bayan-february-16-2012-english-translation/ |archive-date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="schock1999">{{Cite journal|last=Schock|first=Kurt|date=1999|title=People Power and Political Opportunities: Social Movement Mobilization and Outcomes in the Philippines and Burma|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3097105|journal=Social Problems|volume=46|issue=3|pages=355–375|doi=10.2307/3097105|jstor=3097105|issn=0037-7791}}</ref> A boycott movement and plans for massive civilian protests were in place.<ref name="roadtoEDSA">{{cite web|last=Cruz|first=Elfren S.|title=The road to EDSA|url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2017/02/23/1674106/road-edsa|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

During the chaos, the [[Reform the Armed Forces Movement]] headed by then Defense Minister [[Juan Ponce Enrile]] decided to stage a military coup against Marcos.<ref name="inqday1">{{Cite news |last=Research |first=P. D. I. |date=February 13, 2014 |title=EDSA Day 1: February 22, 1986 |language=en |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |url=https://www.inquirer.net/118117/edsa-people-power-revolution-day-1-february-22-1986/ |access-date=August 4, 2021}}</ref> The plot was uncovered,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lingao |first=Ed |title=A 25-year rebellion |language=en-US |work=[[Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism]] Website |url=https://old.pcij.org/stories/a-25-year-rebellion/ |access-date=August 4, 2021}}</ref> however, and the forces involved became trapped in [[Camp Aguinaldo]] in [[Quezon City]]. They then sought and received the support of [[Philippine Constabulary]] chief and AFP vice-chief of staff Lt. General [[Fidel V. Ramos]] in the neighboring [[Camp Crame]], but even with Ramos' defection, their forces were trapped in the two neighboring camps.

Manila's Catholic Archbishop, [[Jaime Sin]], went on [[Radio Veritas]] and called for people to go to the section of [[Epifanio de los Santos Avenue]] in between the two camps and help protect the rebel forces.<ref name="inqday1"/> Since civilian groups were already planning massive protests in relation to the election results, a large crowd was able to gather and prevent Marcos' forces from attacking camps Aguinaldo and Crame.<ref name="schock1999" /><ref name="roadtoEDSA" /> This civilian uprising, which would come to be known as the [[People Power Revolution]], led to various units of the AFP refusing orders to fire on the camps and the civilians protecting them, and led to the removal Marcos from power.<ref name="AprilCarter2013">{{Cite journal |last=Carter |first=April |date=2013 |title=People Power Since 1980: Examining Reasons for its Spread, Success and Failure |journal=Sicherheit und Frieden (S+F) / Security and Peace |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=145–150 |doi=10.5771/0175-274x-2013-3-145 |jstor=24233235 |issn=0175-274X|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Claudio2013">{{Cite book |last=Claudio |first=Lisandro E. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/864093220 |title=Taming people's power : the EDSA revolutions and their contradictions |date=2013 |isbn=978-971-550-655-7 |publisher=[[Ateneo de Manila University Press]] |location=Quezon City |oclc=864093220}}</ref> [[Corazon Aquino]] was then installed as the new president of the Philippines.<ref>{{cite web |title=Corazon Aquino {{!}} Biography & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Corazon-Aquino |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

Shortly after midnight on February 26, five army trucks of troops under the command of Fidel Ramos arrived in Malacañang Palace to secure it after Ferdinand Marcos had left, and various individuals had entered it, marking the end of Marcos' reign, and placing the palace under the control of the [[Provisional Government of the Philippines (1986–1987)|Provisional Government of the Philippines]] until a new constitution could be enacted a year later, in 1987.<ref>{{cite news |author=Fox Butterfield |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/26/world/fall-marcos-behind-presidential-walls-after-marcos-abandons-his-palace-filipinos.html |title=The Fall Of Marcos - Behind The Presidential Walls - After Marcos Abandons His Palace, Filipinos Shout, 'This Is Ours Now!' |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 26, 1986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524193702/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/26/world/fall-marcos-behind-presidential-walls-after-marcos-abandons-his-palace-filipinos.html |access-date=August 2, 2022|archive-date=May 24, 2015 }}</ref>

===Later 20th century===
{{see also|History of the Philippines (1986–present)}}
During [[Presidency of Corazon Aquino|Corazon Aquino's administration]], most of the military units remained loyal to her as she dealt with various coup attempts against her, either by military factions that remained loyal to the former dictator,<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/>{{rp|page=135}} or by the [[Reform the Armed Forces Movement]].<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/> The [[1989 Philippine coup d'état attempt|1989 coup attempt]], the bloodiest of all coup attempts against her, was crushed with US help.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Following the 1989 coup attempt, President Aquino established a Fact-Finding Commission headed by COMELEC Chairman [[Hilario Davide Jr.]] to investigate and provide a full report on the series of coup attempts.<ref name="PCIJrecommendationssummary">{{Cite news |title=PURSUANT TO RA NO. 6832: Recommendations of the Final Report of the Fact Finding Commission |work=Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism |url=http://www.pcij.org/HotSeat/davidereport.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417061659/http://www.pcij.org/HotSeat/davidereport.html |archive-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref><ref name="RA6832ser1990">{{cite web |title=R.A. 6832 |url=https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6832_1990.html |access-date=July 30, 2021 |website=lawphil.net}}</ref> When it came out, The [[Davide Commission Report]] recommended several short-term and long-term counter-measures, including the establishment of a civilian national police force, a crackdown on corruption in the military, a performance review of appointive government officials, reforms in the process of military promotions, a review of election laws in time for the 1992 presidential elections, and a definitive statement on the part of Aquino on whether she intended to run for re-election in 1992.<ref name="Davide Commission Report"/>{{rp|pages=509–530}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Recommendations of the Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission |url=http://www.pcij.org/HotSeat/davidereport.html |publisher=Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism |year=2003 |access-date=May 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417061659/http://www.pcij.org/HotSeat/davidereport.html |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The publication of the recommendations of the report is considered one of the key starting points of security sector reform in the Philippines.<ref name="secgovcentressrbriefer"/><ref name="NDCPCruzSSR"/>

The AFP, during her term also launched a massive campaign against the CPP-NPA after a brief hiatus and also against the [[Moro National Liberation Front]] (MNLF) in the south.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

In 1991, the major services of the AFP were reduced from four to three, when the [[Philippine Constabulary]] or PC, an AFP major service tasked to enforce the law and to curb criminality, was formally merged with the country's [[Integrated National Police]], a national police force on the cities and municipalities in the country attached to the PC to become the [[Philippine National Police]], thus removing it from AFP control and it was civilianized by a law passed by Congress, therefore becoming under the [[Department of the Interior and Local Government]] as a result.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Francisco |first=Katerina |date=September 21, 2016 |title=LOOK BACK: The Philippine Constabulary under Marcos |language=en |work=[[Rappler]] |url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/look-back-philippine-constabulary-marcos |access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref>

===Contemporary history===
{{see also|History of the Philippines (1986–present)}}
{{update|section|date=June 2023}}

In 2000, on President [[Joseph Estrada]]'s orders, the AFP launched an [[2000 Philippine campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front|all-out offensive]] against the [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]], a breakaway group of the MNLF that wants to proclaim Mindanao an independent state.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Hughes |editor-first1=Michelle |editor-last2=Miklaucic |editor-first2=Michael |title=Impunity: Countering Illicit Power in War and Transition |date=October 27, 2016 |publisher=Center for Complex Operations and the [[Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute]] |isbn=978-0-9861865-7-8 |page=175 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1013660.pdf |access-date=26 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116101247/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1013660.pdf |archive-date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> The AFP [[Battle of Camp Abubakar|succeeded in capturing]] the MILF's main headquarters, [[Camp Abubakar]] on July 9.<ref>{{cite news |title=One victory, more needed |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2000/07/13/one-victory-more-needed |access-date=29 August 2024 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=July 13, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805165400/https://www.economist.com/asia/2000/07/13/one-victory-more-needed |archive-date=August 5, 2020}}</ref>

The AFP played a key role in the two-day [[Edsa Dos]] People Power revolt in 2001; the revolution removed Estrada from power and installed then vice-president [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]] as president.<ref>{{cite news |title=People Power II: The downfall of a president |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/year.in.review/story/overview/estrada.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826102858/http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/year.in.review/story/overview/estrada.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=[[CNN]] |date=2001}}</ref>

Since 2001, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been active in supporting the [[War on terror]] and has been attacking terrorist groups in Mindanao ever since. In 2012, the AFP Chief of Staff said that there had been no increase in the number of soldiers over a long period, and that the military aimed to hire 30,000 troops in three years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anc.yahoo.com/news/afp-to-recruit-20-000-soldiers-over-3-years-051206793.html|title=AFP hopes to recruit 20,000 soldiers in 3 years|date=January 15, 2014|publisher=ANC News|access-date=February 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302013756/http://anc.yahoo.com/news/afp-to-recruit-20-000-soldiers-over-3-years-051206793.html|archive-date=March 2, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2013, the AFP successfully [[Zamboanga City crisis|quelled the Zamboanga City attacks]] of the [[Moro National Liberation Front]], which proclaimed the independence of the short-lived [[Bangsamoro Republik]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Medina |first1=Andrei |title=Timeline: Crisis in Zamboanga City |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/325855/timeline-crisis-in-zamboanga-city/story/ |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=[[GMA News Online]] |date=10 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929132701/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/325855/timeline-crisis-in-zamboanga-city/story/ |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

After the signing of the [[Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro]] in 2014, the AFP has played a key part in the normalization process with the MILF, which includes "the decommissioning of MILF combatants and their weapons and the transformation of several camps into productive and resilient communities,"<ref>{{cite web |author=Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process |title=Full implementation of the MILF Normalization Process underway |url=https://peace.gov.ph/2019/03/full-implementation-of-the-milf-normalization-process-underway/ |access-date=August 30, 2021 |website=Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Website |date=March 7, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> developing a close working relationship with the Philippine National Police and the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) in the [[Bangsamoro Peace Process|pursuit of peace]] in the [[Bangsamoro]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process |title=Bangsamoro Normalization gains momentum |url=https://peace.gov.ph/2019/06/bangsamoro-normalization-gains-momentum/ |access-date=August 30, 2021 |website=Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Website |date=June 25, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2016, the AFP clashed with the [[Maute group]] on [[Butig]] on [[February 2016 Butig clash|February]], late May to early June,<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippine troops seize militant camp |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2016/06/05/2003647937 |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604170604/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2016/06/05/2003647937 |archive-date=4 June 2016}}</ref> and on [[November 2016 Butig clash|November]] of 2016.

Under President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] in May 2017, the AFP thwarted the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS militants']] attempt to establish a foothold in the Philippines in the [[Battle of Marawi|five-month-long siege]] to retake [[Marawi]] from militant occupation.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McKirdy |first1=Euan |last2=Berlinger |first2=Joshua |date=October 17, 2017 |title=Philippines' Duterte declares liberation of Marawi from ISIS-affiliated militants |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/17/asia/duterte-marawi-liberation/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017075815/https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/17/asia/duterte-marawi-liberation/index.html |archive-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> The AFP called President Duterte to declare [[Proclamation No. 216|Martial Law]] under [[Proclamation No. 216]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Additionally, the AFP and the [[NTF-ELCAC]] were at the forefront of Duterte's intensified campaign against the communist rebellion; by the of Duterte's term, the AFP reported the reduction of NPA [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla fronts]] from 89 to 23, and only 2,000 remained of more than 25,000 "members, supporters, and sympathizers of the underground movement".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nepomuceno |first=Priam |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Duterte admin made significant gains vs. NPA: AFP |language=en |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178431 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707084355/https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178431 |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, the number of active communist rebels in the NPA reached a low of 1,500, with the AFP aiming to neutralize them by the end of the year. As a result of the development, the AFP under the [[Bongbong Marcos administration]] has been shifting its focus away from handling internal threats towards defending Philippine territory from external threats such as China's [[Territorial disputes in the South China Sea|encroachment]] in the [[West Philippine Sea]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Vitug|first=Marites|author-link=Marites Vitug|title=Hindi Ito Marites: Malapit na bang matalo ng AFP ang NPA?|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/podcasts-videos/hindi-ito-marites-afp-decisive-victory-over-npa-imminent/|access-date=February 20, 2024|work=[[Rappler]]|publisher=Rappler Inc.|date=February 16, 2024}}</ref>