This document outlines the legal basis and organizational structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It discusses that the AFP was established through various acts and executive orders to defend the Philippines and assist in nation-building. The AFP is commanded by the President through the Secretary of National Defense and Chief of Staff. It is comprised of three major services (Army, Navy, Air Force) and area commands that are supported by general headquarters and joint staff offices. The document also describes the missions and responsibilities of the three major services.

1. Military Organization
I. Legal Basis of AFP Organization
The following are the legal basis of the AFP Organization:
a. Constitution –The defense of the State isthe AFP’sprimaryduty.All citizens,asrequiredbylaw,
are mandated to render military service.
b. CommonwealthActNo.1– otherwise knownasthe NationalDefenseActwhichwasapprovedon
21 December 1935.
c. Executive OrderNo.11 – issuedbyPres.Manuel L. Quezonon11 January1936 that effectedthe
organization of Headquarters, Philippine Army, as a regular component of the AFP.
d. Commonwealth Act No. 88 – approved by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon on 26 January 1936 that
provide for the creation of the state police force, which nationalized the police force into a
separate organization. The constabulary was relieved of its national police power and remained
as the integral part of the Philippine army.
e. CommonwealthActno.343 – approvedon23 June 1938 and implementedbyExecutiveOrderno
15 issued the same day which effected the separation of the Philippine Constabulary from the
Philippine Army.
II. AFP Mission:
To defendthe Republicof the Philippines,safeguardsitsnational security,andtoassist
governmentagenciesinthe socio-economicdevelopmentof the country.
AFP Functions:
In consonance withnational objectives,the AFPperformsthe following:
a. Upholdthe sovereignty,supportthe Constitution,anddefendthe territoryof the
country.
b. Promote andadvance the national aims,goals,interests,andpolicies.
c. Plan,organize,maintain,develop,anddeployitsregularandcitizenreserveForcesfor
National Security.
d. Assistandsupportthe National governmentinitstaskof nationbuilding.Performs
otherfunctionsasthe Presidentmaydirect.

2. III. Command Authority
PRESIDENT – As the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP,he exercisesstrategicdirectionof the AFP through
the Secretaryof National Defense (SND).He likewise exercisescommandof the AFPthroughthe Chief of
Staff, AFP.
SECRETARY OFNATIONALDEFENSE –servesasthe CivilianAdviserof thePresidentonmattersconcerning
defense andsecurityof the state.He istaskedwiththe dutyof supervisingthe national defense program
of the country and has executive supervision over the AFP.
CHIEF OF STAFF, AFP – is the highest military officer of the AFP, commands the AFP, principal military
adviser of the President,and executes the President’s command functions. Through him, the President
issues orders to all AFP
Commanders.
IV. Command Organization
a. The CommanderinChief exercisescommandandcontrol overAFPthroughthe Chiefof Staff,AFP
(CSAFP).
b. Directlyunderthe CSAFPare six (6) are commands,namelyNorthernLuzonCommand(NOLCOM),
Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM), Central Command (CENTCOM), Western Command
(WESCOM), Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM), and Western Mindanao Command
(WESTMINCOM).
c. The three (3) Major Service commands (PHILIPPINE ARMY, NAVY AND AIRFORCE) are likewise
under the CSAFP, to provide administrative and logistical support to and supervision of their
respective elements under operational control of the Area Commands.
V. AFP Organization
To accomplishitsmission,AFPisorganizedasfollows:
1. General Headquarters(GHQ)
2. Major Service Commands:(Philippine Army(PA),PhilippineAirForce (PAF),PhilippineNavy
(PN))
3. AreaCommands
4. AFP Wide Support and Separate Units (AFPWSSUs)
The General Headquarters (GHQ)
To provide directionandcontrol tothe ArmedForcesof the Philippines,formulate the plansand
programsfor the guidance of three (3) Major Servicesandotherunitsof the AFPand to provide the AFP-
wide support to include admin, intelligence, training, logistics, technical and special services.
The Joint Staff
a. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for PERSONNEL (J-1)
b. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for INTELLIGENCE (J-2)
c. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for OPERATION (J-3)

3. d. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for LOGISTICS (J-4)
e. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for PLANS (J-5)
f. Office of the DeputyChiefof StaffforCOMMUNICATION ELETRONICSANDINFORMATION
SYSTEM (J-6)
g. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for CMO (J-7)
h. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for EDUCATION AND TRAINING (J- 8)
i. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for RESERVIST AFFAIRS (J-9)
The Members ofthe Personal Staff
a. Office of the StrategicandSpecial Studies,AFP(OSS)
b. PublicAffairsOffice (PAO)
c. LiaisonOffice forLegislativeAffairs(Lola)
d. Office of the InspectorGeneral (OTIG)
e. Office of the Ethical StandardsandPublicAccountability(OESPA)
f. Office of the AFPSergeantMajor(AFPSM)
The Members ofthe Special Technical Staff
a. Office of the Provost Marshal General (OTPMG)
b. Office of the AdjutantGeneral (OTAG)
c. Office of the Judge Advocate General (OTJAG)
d. AFPHeadquartersService Command(AFPHSC)
e. Office of the Chief ChaplainService (OTCCHS)
f. The Office forHistorical andCultural Activities(OHCA)
g. AFPCommissionedOfficersClub(AFPCOC)
h. AFPHousingAdministration(AFPHA)
i. Office of the Chief of Engineers(OTCE)
j. Office of the Chief Ordnance andChemical Services(OTCOCS)
k. Office the QuartermasterGeneral (OTQMG)
l. The Office of the SurgeonGeneral (OTSG)
m. Office of the Chief Dental Service,AFP(OTCDS)
n. Office of the Chief Nurse,AFP(OTCN)
AFP WideService Support Units(AFPWSSU
a. AFPLogisticsCommand(AFLC)
b. IntelligenceServiceAFP(ISAFP)
c. AFPMedical Center(AFPMC)
d. Philippine MilitaryAcademy(PMA)
e. AFPCommandand General Staff College(AFPCGSC)
f. CommunicationsElectronicsandInformationSystemsService,AFP(CEISSAFP)
g. AFPFinance Center(AFPFC)
h. AFPDental Service (AFPDS)
i. CommissaryandExchange Service (AFPCES)

4. j. AFPMappingCenter(AFPMC)
k. Civil RelationsService,AFP(CRSAFP)
l. AFPReserve Command(AFPRESCOM)
m. Presidential SecurityGroup(PSG)
n. Office of Ethical Standardand PublicAccountabilities(OESPA)
VI. AFP Components
The AFP hastwo (2) majorcomponents,namely:the REGULARandthe RESERVE components.
1. REGULAR componentsshall consistof all standingforcesasdirectedbythe President.
The Presidentmayattachto the standingforcesor may be assigned todutywithany
componentof the standingforces suchas members of the reservesofficersandtrainees
as he may deemnecessary.
2. RESERVE componentsshall consistof the reserveunitsinthe MajorServicesandof the
AFPWide-SupportandSeparate Units andAffiliatedReserve Unitsasthe Presidentmay
authorize.
VII. The Major Services
Major Services Primary Responsibility Mission
Philippine In-charge with 1. To organize,trainandequiparmyforcesforthe conductof prompt
Army the and sustainlandcombat operations.
development 2. To developtactics,doctrine,procedures,techniquesand
and services equipmentneededbythe armyforfieldoperation.
of the ground 3. To train,organize andequipall armyserve unitsandmake them
forcesof the mobilizedinlesserspanof time
AFP 4. To performsuchotherfunctions ashigherauthoritiesmaydirect.
Philippine In-charge with 1. To organize,train,equip,maintainandoperate naval force and
Navy the naval aircraft includingnaval reserve,andassistancerequiredby
development the othercomponentsof the AFPinaccomplishmentsof itsmission.
and services 2. To assistgovernmentagenciesinthe enforcementof lawsand
of the naval regulationspertainingtonavigation,emigration,customs,revenue,
forcesof the opium, quarantine fishingandneutralityinthe territorial and
AFP continuouswaterof the Philippinearchipelago.
3. To developdoctrines,procedures,andnaval equipmentof join
operationandthe doctrine andproceduresforamphibious
operation.
4. To be responsible forthe naval phasesof the reconnaissance,
anti-submarinewarfare andthe protectionof shipping.
5. To performsuchotherdutiesthe higherauthoritiesmaydirect.

5. Philippine In-charge with 1. To organize,trainandequipairforcespromptand sustained
Air Force the operationinthe air.
development 2. To organize,trainandequipairforcesclossupportof groundforces
and services 3. To develop,doctrines,procedures,tactics,techniquesand
of the air equipmentforjointoperationpeculiartothe airforce.
forcesof the 4. To furnishaerial photographs forcartographicpurposes.
AFP 5. To performsuchotherfunctionsashigherauthority maydirect.