Editing Panamanian Public Forces (section)

===The Panama Defense Forces===
{{main|Panama Defense Forces}}
After Torrijos' death, and two successive commanders with lesser political influence, the position was eventually assumed by [[Manuel Noriega]], who restructured all of the National Guard's military and police forces under his command, into the Fuerzas de Defensa de Panamá (Panama Defense Forces). He built the PDF into a structured force, and further consolidated his political power. Under Noriega, the PDF was more a tool of political control, than a force dedicated to national defense and law enforcement.{{sfn|Leonard|2014|p=187}}

Besides consolidating his grasp on power by increasing military forces and spending, Noriega increased the power and influence of the PDF Military Intelligence Section (G-2 for its standard military designation), which he commanded prior his rise to power. It became a secret police, feared even inside the PDF ranks. He relied on several loyal military units, like the [[7th Macho de Monte Infantry Company|7th Inf Co. "Macho de Monte"]] (Mountain Men, a guerrilla warfare unit named after an aggressive wild boar), the 1st Public Order Co. "Doberman" (a riot police force), the UESAT (Unidades Especiales de Servicio Anti Terror), an Israeli trained counter-terrorism strike force. 

That way, he was able to maintain an iron grip on day to day political affairs and survive attempted coups. The "Doberman" Co. was disbanded and replaced by the 2nd Public Order Co. "Centurions" after the "Dobermen" key role in the last coup attempt against Noriega.

Due to the political turmoil of the late 1980s, Noriega formed the civilian paramilitary unit called the [[Dignity Battalions]] composed of regular sympathizers and the CODEPADI, formed of civil servants inside public institutions. Both were intended to bolster up forces to be used in case of foreign military action, but were mainly used as shock troops in acts of political repression.

As stated before, the PDF's main role as a tool of political control of the population by intimidation, coercion and direct aggression, instead of the legitimate role<ref>{{Cite news|title=Panama|work=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> of armed forces in national defense, was proved when they showed to be largely ineffective as a combat force during [[United States invasion of Panama|Operation Just Cause]], when U.S. Forces invaded Panama and overthrew Noriega in 1989. Only some individuals, including last-minute civilian volunteers who despite opposing the regime considered it their duty to fight against foreign forces, small units, and in some cases the Dignity Battalions, presented more armed resistance.