AFP Southern Command
Active1976–2006
DisbandedAugust 6, 2006
CountryPhilippines Philippines
AllegiancePhilippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
TypeUnified Command
RoleAnti-Terrorism

Anti-Dissidents
Search and Rescue

Disaster Relief
Size49,000
Part ofDepartment of National Defense Armed Forces of the Philippines
Garrison/HQCamp Basilio Navarro, Zamboanga City
Nickname(s)SouthCom
EquipmentM113 Armored Personnel Carriers

FV101 Scorpion Light Tanks
V150 Commando Light Armored Vehicles
GKN Simba Light Armored Vehicles
M101 105mm Howitzers

M114 155mm Howitzers
EngagementsAll-Out War against MILF(Operation Restore Fragile Peace)

Siege of Lamitan

Battle of Jolo
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Rear Admiral Romulo Espaldon

Major General Delfin Castro
Lieutenant General Angelo Reyes
Lieutenant General Roy Cimatu
Lieutenant General Narciso Abaya

Lieutenant General Generoso Senga
Aircraft flown
AttackOV10 Bronco
FighterF5 Freedom
S211 Amaechi
HelicopterBell 512
Bell 514
Attack helicopterMG-525 Defender Attack Helicopters
AH-S70 Spirit Attack Gunship Helicopters
Cargo helicopterC130 Hercules
Multirole helicopterUH-1H Huey Helicopters

Bell 412

Bell 414
Utility helicopterUH-1H Huey Helicopters
PatrolC130 Hercules

AFP Southern Command (SouthCom) is a defunct unified command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was the largest command under AFP during its existence. It covers entire island of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, Celebes Sea, Sulu Sea, and Southern part of Philippine Sea. It gained highlight during the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping incidents and the all-out war against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency. It is also one of the government organizations advocating the "Culture of Peace" in Mindanao.

This command was dealing with Moro conflict in late 1960s until mid 1990s with Moro National Liberational Front which are focused in Sulu Archipelago. A separate members of MNLF who were not in favor of the Tripoli Tripartite[1] pact which launched another Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 1979 which are more located in Southern part of mainland Mindanao. Aside from moro secessional movements, southern command is also dealing with Communist Rebellion with CPP-NPA who are controlling the hinterlands in Northeastern. In order to deal with different front the government decided to split the command in order to focus solely on single front.[2]

On August 6, 2006, Southern Command was split into two separate commands Western Mindanao Command and Eastern Mindanao Command and it was disbanded.[3][4]

Organization

  • 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division
  • 4th Infantry (Diamond)Division
  • 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division
  • 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion
  • 1st Special Forces Battalion
  • 1st Light Reaction Company
  • 55th Engineering Brigade
  • 3rd Air Division
  • Naval Forces South
  • 3rd Marine Brigade
  • 4th Civil Relations Group, AFP

Lineage of Commanders

  • Lieutenant General Edilberto Adan (2005–2006)
  • Lieutenant General Alberto Braganza (2004–2005)
  • Lieutenant General Generoso Senga, PA (2003–2004)
  • Lieutenant General Roy Kyamko, PA (2002–2003)
  • Lieutenant General Narciso Abaya, PA (2003–2004)
  • Lieutenant General Gregorio Camiling, PA (2002–2003)
  • Lieutenant General Roy Cimatu, PA (2001–2002)[5]
  • Lieutenant General Ernesto Carolina, PA (2000–2001)
  • Lieutenant General Edgardo Espinosa, PMC (1999–2000)
  • Lieutenant General Diomedio Villanueva (1999–1999)
  • Lieutenant General Angelo Reyes (1998–1999)
  • Lieutenant General Joselin Nazareno (1997–1998)
  • Lieutenant General Edgardo Batenga (1995–1997)
  • Major General Regino Lacson (1993–1995)
  • Major General Clemente Mariano (1991–1993)
  • Major General Manuel Dizon (December 1986 - December 1988)
  • Major General Jose Magno (February 1986 – December 1986)
  • Major General Delfin Castro (1980–1986)
  • Rear Admiral Romulo Espaldon, PN (1976–1980)[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "THE TRIPOLI AGREEMENT" (PDF). 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  2. ↑ "Arroyo approves splitting of AFP Southern Command | GMA News Online". gmanetwork.com. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  3. ↑ Soliman, Santos (April 2010). "PRIMED AND PURPOSEFUL" (PDF). South-South Network for Non-State Armed Group Engagement: 182. ISBN 978-2-940415-29-8.
  4. ↑ "AFP to beef up forces after Southcom split". The Philippine Star. August 22, 2006.
  5. ↑ https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1200/RR1236/RAND_RR1236.pdf
  6. ↑ Noble, Lela (1976). "Philippines 1976: The contrast between shrine and shanty". Asian Survey (1st ed.). San Jose, California. 17 (2): 138. doi:10.2307/2643471. JSTOR 2643471.

6°55′4.52″N 122°2′28.16″E / 6.9179222°N 122.0411556°E / 6.9179222; 122.0411556

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