ThePhilippine Army (PA) (Filipino:Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas) is the main, oldest and largest branch of theArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible forground warfare. As of 2025[update], it had an estimated strength of 110,000 personnel.[1] The service branch was established on December 21, 1935, as thePhilippine Commonwealth Army.
The Philippine Army has been engaged in numerous combat operations, including the ongoingCommunist rebellion in the Philippines, theMoro conflict and, alongside other national military forces, in conflicts of international scope and on United Nations peacekeeping missions in various parts of the globe.
TheCommanding General of the Philippine Army is its professional and overall head. Its mainheadquarters (Headquarters Philippine Army or HPA) is located atFort Andres Bonifacio,Taguig City.
Majority of the soldier that served theCaptaincy General of the Philippines are Philippine natives,[4] as opposed to their Native-American, Mestizo from the Americas or white counterparts who at first, are mostlyCriollos from New Mexico, but then afterMexican independence, are mostly from the Peninsula. Many of them are exiles and are forced to join the military service in the Philippines for crimes committed at home.[5] Philippine natives, in most cases, join the military to pay debts. They participated in many conflicts and pacifications throughout the Spanish Empire. In many cases acting as intermediaries. The reward for service of an elite native are mostly land grant and encomiendas. The annexation of the capital - Manila to the Spanish Empire in 1571 was made possible with the help of the Visayan natives who viewsRajah Sulayman as an enemy.[4]
After three centuries ofSpanish rule, there were calls for social reforms and an end to the perceived oppressive friar rule. In 1896,Andres Bonifacio founded theKatipunan to prepare his band of Filipinos for armed revolt against the Spanish government. The Katipunan thus formed an army ofinsurgents.[6]
On March 22, 1897, almost a year after the outbreak of hostilities between the Katipuneros and the Spanish troops,Emilio Aguinaldo was elected as revolutionary president in theTejeros Convention and revolutionary forces were organized into thePhilippine Revolutionary Army (PRA). GeneralArtemio Ricarte was named as its Captain General. This date marks the founding day of the PRA, and is considered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be the establishment date of the Philippine Army.[7]
On November 1, theRepublic of Biak-na-Bato was established, with the PRA as its military arm. That republic was dissolved on December 14 by thePact of Biak-na-Bato, with Aguinaldo and other senior leadership going intoexile in Hong Kong. During the exile period, some elements of the PRA remained active in the Philippines under theCentral Executive Committee established byFrancisco Macabulos. On May 19, 1898, during theSpanish–American War, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines, rekindled the revolution,declared independence from Spain, and became President of theFirst Philippine Republic which was established during the lull following Spanish surrender to American forces in the Philippines.
The 1898Treaty of Paris formalized the end of theSpanish–American War, with one of its provisions beingcession of the Philippines to America by Spain. Shortly thereafter, thePhilippine–American War erupted between that nascent republic and occupying American forces, eventually resulting in American victory and the disbanding of the PRA.
During the final years of the Philippine–American War, with the notable successes by the all-Filipino Macabebe Scouts cavalry squadron (raised in 1899) under U.S. command against the PRA, the American President Theodore Roosevelt officially sanctioned the raising of thePhilippine Scouts (PS) as part of theUnited States Army, with full effect starting from October 1901. Earlier, in August that same year, came the colonial civil government's decision to found thePhilippine Constabulary (PC) as the nationalgendarmerie force for law enforcement. Both of these organizations and their victories over the PRA; the Scouts were integrated into the U.S. Army,[8] and the Constabulary gradually took over the responsibility for suppressing hostile forces' activities from United States Army units.[9] This contributed to ending the conflict in 1902, even as resistance continued (inclusive of the Muslims of the south, resulting in theMoro Rebellion) through 1914.
Starting in 1910, one Philippine Scout soldier was sent to theUnited States Military Academy each year. Several of these graduates who had served with the Scouts, along with PC officers, formed part of the first officer corps of the revitalizedPhilippine Army established in 1935.[10]
In 1917 thePhilippine Assembly created thePhilippine National Guard with the intent to join theAmerican Expeditionary Force. By the time it was absorbed into theNational Army it had grown to 25,000 soldiers. However, these units did not see action. The first Filipino to die in World War I was PrivateTomas Mateo Claudio who served with the U.S. Army as part of the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe. He died in theBattle of Chateau Thierry in France on June 29, 1918.[11][12] The Tomas Claudio Memorial College in Morong Rizal, Philippines, which was founded in 1950, was named in his honor.[13]
The Philippine National Guard unit of the U.S. Army was deactivated following World War I, then formally disbanded in 1921.[14] During most of theInterwar period, spanning about 20 years from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939, the Philippines had no armed forces other than the Philippine Scouts, the Constabulary, and some semimilitary units which were generally privately organized and had no connection with conventional military forces.[15]
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The Philippine Army of today was initially organized under theNational Defense Act of 1935 (Commonwealth Act No. 1) that formally created the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The act specified that insofar as may be practicable, original appointments by the President in grades above third lieutenant "shall be made from among those formerly holding Reserve Commissions in the United States Army, from among former officers of the Philippine Scouts and Constabulary, from among former officers of the National Guard and from such others who possess exceptional ability or special training and skill."[16][17]
After the establishment of thePhilippine Commonwealth on November 15, 1935,PresidentManuel L. Quezon sought the services ofGeneral of the ArmyDouglas MacArthur (alsoPhilippine Army Field Marshal) to evolve a national defense plan. The official rebirth of the Philippine Army occurred with the passage ofCommonwealth Act No. 1, approved on December 21, 1935, which effected the organization of aCouncil of National Defense and of theArmy of the Philippines. The act set forth the organizational structure of the army in some detail, set forth enlistment procedures, and established mobilization procedures.[16] With this act, the AFP was officially established.
The development of the by now renewed Philippine Army was slow.[18] The year 1936 was devoted to the building of camps, organization of cadres, and the special training of instructors, drawn largely from the Constabulary, which joined the new force as the Constabulary Division. The commander of the Philippine Department provided Philippine Scouts as instructors and detailed U.S. Army officers to assist in the inspection, instruction, and administration of the program. By the end of the year instructors had been trained and camps established.
The first group of 20,000 men was called up on January 1, 1937, and by the end of 1939 there were 4,800 officers and 104,000 men in the reserves.[18] Infantry training was given at camps scattered throughout the Philippines. Field artillery training was concentrated in the vicinity of the U.S. Army'sFort Stotsenburg near Angeles, about fifty miles north ofManila, and specialized training was given atFort William McKinley just south of Manila. Coast artillery instruction was carried on at Fort Stotsenburg and atGrande Island inSubic Bay by personnel supplied largely by the American commander atCorregidor.
With the threat of war withJapan becoming imminent, on July 26, 1941, a new U.S. command in the Far East was created, known as theUnited States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) under the command of General MacArthur. On the same date, U.S. PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, issued aPresidential Order (6 Fed. Reg. 3825) which called the Philippine Army into the service of the Armed Forces of the United States. The Presidential Order did not order all the military forces of the Philippine government into the service of the United States Armed Forces; only those units and personnel indicated in orders issued by a general officer of the United States Army were mobilized and made an integral part of the United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), and only those members of a unit who physically reported for duty were inducted.[19][20] With an annual appropriation of 16 million pesos, the mobilized units trained new Filipino members in defending the nation and protecting its people.[citation needed]
When World War II broke out in December 1941, two regular and ten reserve divisions of the Philippine Army undertook the defense of the Philippines. These divisions were incorporated into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) under the command of General Jhun De Silva and General MacArthur.
Japanese forces invaded the Philippines after the bombing ofPearl Harbor on the island of Oahu on December 7, 1941. At this time, two regular and ten reserve divisions of the Philippine Army undertook the defense of thePhilippines. This includedNorth Luzon Force (under then Major GeneralJonathan M. Wainwright),South Luzon Force activated December 13, 1941 under Brig. Gen.George M. Parker Jr., theVisayas-Mindanao Force under ColonelW.F. Sharp in the southern islands (61st,81st, and 101st Divisions plus three other regiments),[21] and the Reserve Force. North Luzon Force included the11th,21st, and31st Divisions, all reserve.[22] South Luzon Force include the 1st (regular) Division, and the 41st, 51st, and 71st (reserve) Divisions.[23] These divisions were incorporated into the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).[24]
The equipment of these units included:Renault FT tank (prewar training only);75mm SPM (manned by PA and PS personnel);Bren Gun Carrier (ex-Canadian);Canon de 155 mm GPF;Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider[25]75 mm Gun M1917;2.95 inch QF Mountain gun;3-inch naval gun;6-pounder naval gun;Stokes Mortar;Brandt mle 27/31;Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP;M2 Browning machine gun;M1917 Browning machine gun;AN/M2;M1918 Browning automatic rifle;M1917 Enfield rifle;M1903 Springfield rifle;Thompson submachine gun;M1911 pistol;M1917 revolver;Colt New Service;Smith & Wesson Model 10;Colt Official Police; and theColt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless.[citation needed]
After the Battle of Bataan, the Japanese began the siege andBattle of Corregidor. Defending forces included regiments of theHarbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays, the4th Marine Regiment and other Philippine, U.S. Army and Navy units and soldiers. Japanese forces landed at Corregidor on May 5, 1942. The island's fall led to the surrender of all defending Filipino and American forces on May 6, 1942. About 4,000 of the 11,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war from the island were marched through the streets of Manila to incarceration atFort Santiago inIntramuros andBilibid Prison inMuntinlupa,Rizal, which had become Japanese camps.
With the fall of Corregidor, Filipino and U.S. forces under U.S. command surrendered. After the surrender, thousands of Filipinos formerly under U.S. command (especially the formerVisayas-Mindanao Force, which had seen little combat) evaded Japanese confinement and hid in the jungle. Every major island had guerrilla groups; Luzon had a dozen, including the CommunistHuks. After initial clashes based on religious and political rivalries order was gradually restored, with most willing to trust the United States to grant independence in time.[26] Many of these groups worked under the control of General Douglas MacArthur's General Headquarters,Southwest Pacific Area. TheJapanese occupation of the Philippines saw repeated combat between the Japanese imperial forces, their collaborators and Filipino guerrillas. The American and Allied liberation force which began landing on October 17, 1944, was aided by local Filipino soldiers and recognized guerrillas in theliberation of the Philippines.
PresidentSergio Osmeña and Major GeneralBasilio J. Valdes ordered the re-establishment of the army. The general headquarters of the Philippine Army and the United States Army Forces in the Far East moved toTacloban,Leyte on October 23. From October 17, 1944, to September 2, 1945, local Philippine Constabulary troops, guerrilla units and the American liberation forces fought Imperial Japanese andKempeitai troops which were supported by the Bureau of Constabulary andMakapili militia.
After the restoration of the Commonwealth of the Philippines on October 20, 1944, President Sergio Osmeña, the government, military officials and cabinet returned from exile in the United States.
After the war, four military areas were activated to take the place of military districts. The Armed Forces were reorganized, thereby giving birth to its four major services. Headquarters National Defense Forces was renamed General Headquarters Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Service of the Philippine Army as part of theUnited States Army terminated as of midnight, June 30, 1946, by authority of General Order #168,U.S. Army Forces, Western Pacific.[20] The next day, on July 1, PresidentManuel Roxas issued Executive Order No. 94 s. 1947 which, among other things, reorganized the Philippine Army into a service branch of what was now called the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[27] This resulted in the formation of thePhilippine Air Force and reformation of thePhilippine Navy as separate organizations after long years as part of the Philippine Army.
In the early fifties and the mid-sixties, the Philippine government extended a helping hand to war-torn countries as part of its commitment as member of the United Nations.
1950 would see the new army not just fighting Communist groups in Luzon but from August of that year, even theKorean People's Army and their allies in thePeople's Liberation Army in theKorean War as PA Battalion Combat Teams (BCTs) forming the bulk of thePhilippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea formed part of the UN forces, led by the US, that fought in the conflict. The decade saw the raising of the first active division of the Army, the 1st Infantry Division. With the victory over the Huks later in the 50s, the BCTs became active duty infantry battalions. Formed in the same time was the1st Scout Ranger Regiment, and in 1962 the PA raised its airborne and special forces formation, theSpecial Forces Regiment (Philippines) following the traditions of the US Army Special Forces (the Green Berets) and the 11th Airborne Division that helped liberate Southern Luzon and Manila at the closing stages of the Japanese occupation of the country.
It would only take until the 1970s and the Communist and Muslim rebellions that would force the PA into the establishment of its 2nd Infantry Division, which led to the raising of more infantry divisions all over the country, as well as the formal raising of the Army's Special Operations Command and what is now today the Armor Division. The Philippine Army was also involved in major conflicts worldwide, such as theKorean War, thewar on terror, thePersian Gulf War and theIraq War, as well as missions with theUnited Nations, such as theUnited Nations Disengagement Observer Force inGolan Heights and theUnited Nations Mission in East Timor. By the 2000s, the Army acquired a small aviation capability for transport purposes, with plans to include attack and transport helicopters, a rocket artillery battery unit, and a land-based missile battery system unit.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Philippine Army[28] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Brigadier general | Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | |||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippine Army[28] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private first class | Private | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These ranks and insignia are also found in buttons of camouflagemilitary uniforms
The Philippine Army is headed by theChief of the Army, attaining the rank ofLieutenant General. He is assisted by the Vice-Commander of the Philippine Army, and the Chief of Staff, Philippine Army in charge on organizational and administrative matters, both holding the ranks ofMajor General. The Philippine Army consists of 11 infantry divisions, 1 armor division, 1 combined arms brigade, 1 artillery regiment, 5 engineer brigades, 1 aviation regiment, and 7 combat support units which are spread throughout the Philippine Archipelago.
The Philippine Army has several regular units and regular support units dedicated to both counter-insurgency and conventional army operations:
Regular units
Regular support units
The Army has 4 functional commands, and is responsible for the handling of reserves, creating doctrines and training operations, and overall installation and combat support in the army's operations.
The Army has a total of 11 infantry divisions, composed of 2-4 infantry brigades. The infantry divisions are also part of the 6 Unified Commands of the AFP, and are responsible for overall infantry operations within their respective areas of responsibility.
The Army has onecombined arms brigade, and also serves as a rapid deployment force, combined in one major unit, and serves as a major maneuver unit, capable of rapid mobilization and conventional warfare.
The Army has one armor division, comprising two mechanized brigades, six mechanized battalions, seven separate cavalry squadrons, a maintenance unit and an aviation arm. The unit is responsible for mechanized fire support, as well as the deployment of mobile infantry brigades and armored reconnaissance units.
The Army has one artillery regiment, comprising nine artillery battalions and six artillery battery units, responsible of overall artillery fire support to the army's maneuver units.
The Army has 5 engineer brigades, responsible for overall engineering support, construction of army facilities, and counter-mobility operations.[35]
The Army has one aviation regiment, which is part of the Army's Armor Division, responsible for reconnaissance and airborne operations such as aerial transport andmedical evacuation duties. The unit is also undergoing significant upgrades as the Army slowly fulfills its modernization efforts and will soon be responsible for future air support and improved transport operations.
The Army has seven combat support units, responsible for overall combat support operations, ranging from communications, logistics, intelligence, ordinance disposal, enforcement, signalling, and services operations.
The Army has 14 combat service support units, responsible for overall organizational support; as well as public, information, and military law affairs; security and escort operations; and medical, dental and religious services.
The Philippine Army has three special operations regiments dedicated to special operations. These units report directly to theAFP Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC):
The Army, being the dominant branch of the AFP, has maintained a large number of bases throughout the country compared to the other branches. They have used these bases in support of their operations nationwide.
| Luzon | |
|---|---|
| Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo | Quezon City |
| Camp Gen. Rigoberto Atienza | Libis,Quezon City |
| Fort Bonifacio | Taguig City |
| Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz | Upi,Gamu, Isabela |
| Fort Gen. Gregorio H. Del Pilar | Baguio |
| Camp Lt. Tito Abat | Manaoag, Pangasinan |
| Fort Ramon Magsaysay | Nueva Ecija |
| Camp Tinio | Cabanatuan |
| Camp Servillano Aquino | Tarlac City |
| Camp O'Donnell | Santa Lucia,Capas, Tarlac |
| Camp Tecson | San Miguel, Bulacan |
| Camp Gen. Mateo M. Capinpin | Tanay, Rizal |
| Camp General Mariano Riego De Dios | Tanza,Cavite |
| Camp Alfredo Santos | Calauag, Quezon |
| Camp Guillermo Nakar | Lucena City |
| Camp Elias Angeles | San Jose,Pili, Camarines Sur |
| Camp Weene Martillana | San Jose,Pili, Camarines Sur |
| Camp General Macario Sakay | Los Baños, Laguna |
| Camp General Simeon A. Ola | Legazpi, Albay |
| Visayas | |
| Camp Lapu-Lapu | Lahug,Cebu City |
| Camp Major Jesus M. Jizmundo | Libas,Banga, Aklan |
| Camp Gen. Macario G. Peralta, Jr. | Jamindan,Capiz |
| Camp Gen. Adriano Hernandez | Dingle,Iloilo |
| Camp Monteclaro | Igtuba,Miagao, Iloilo |
| Camp Tirambulo | McKinley,Guihulngan, Negros Oriental |
| Camp Leon Kilat | Tanjay, Negros Oriental |
| Camp Ruperto Kangleon | Palo,Leyte |
| Camp Jorge Downes | Ormoc, Leyte |
| Camp General Vicente Lukban | Catbalogan, Samar |
| Camp Martin Delgado | Iloilo City |
| Camp Francisco C. Fernandez Jr. | Agan-an,Sibulan, Negros Oriental |
| Mindanao | |
| Camp General Basilio Navarro | Zamboanga City |
| Camp Arturo Enrile | Zamboanga City |
| Camp Panacan - Naval Station Felix Apolinario | Panacan,Davao City |
| Camp Edilberto Evangelista | Patag,Cagayan de Oro |
| Kuta Major Cesar L. Sang-an | Pulacan,Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur |
| Camp Colonel Oscar F. Natividad | Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon |
| Camp Osito D. Bahian | Malaybalay, Bukidnon |
| Camp Ranao | Marawi City |
| Camp Allere | Salvador, Lanao del Norte |
| Camp Duma Sinsuat | Barira, Maguindanao |
| Camp Brig. Gen. Gonzalo H. Siongco | Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao |
| Camp Robert Eduard M. Lucero | Nasapian,Carmen,Cotabato |
| Camp Paulino Santos | Dado,Alamada, Cotabato |
| Camp Brig. Gen. Hermenegildo Agaab | Malandag,Malungon, Sarangani |
| Camp Climaco Pintoy | Suarez,Iligan |
| Maria Cristina Military Reservation | Maria Cristina,Iligan |
| Camp Fermin G. Lira, Jr. | Bulaong Road,General Santos |
| Torrey Barracks | Malabang, Lanao del Sur |
| Camp Amai Pakpak | Marawi, Lanao del Sur |
| Camp Cabunbata | Cabunbata,Isabela, Basilan |
| Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. | Tuboran,Mawab,Davao de Oro |
| Camp San Gabriel | Mintal,Davao City |
| Camp Teodulfo Bautista | Busbus,Jolo, Sulu |
| Camp Romualdo C. Rubi | Bancasi,Butuan |
| Camp Datu Lipus Makapandong | Prosperidad,Agusan del Sur |
The Philippine Army has made use of its existing equipment to fulfill its mandate while modernization projects are underway. TheRepublic Act No. 7898 declares the policy of the State to modernize the military to a level where it can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate to uphold the sovereignty and preserve the patrimony of therepublic. The law, as amended, has set conditions that should be satisfied when the defense department procures major equipment and weapon systems for the army.
| Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) |
|
|---|---|
| Leadership | |
| Army | Reserve Command (RESCOM) |
| Air Force | |
| Navy | |
| Coast Guard | |
| Wars and conflicts | |
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