AFP Southern Command

AFP Southern Command
Active	1976–2006
Disbanded	August 6, 2006
Country	Philippines
Allegiance	Philippines Armed Forces of the Philippines
Type	Unified Command
Role	Anti-Terrorism Anti-Dissidents Search and Rescue Disaster Relief
Size	49,000
Part of	Department of National Defense Armed Forces of the Philippines
Garrison/HQ	Camp Basilio Navarro, Zamboanga City
Nickname(s)	SouthCom
Equipment	M113 Armored Personnel Carriers FV101 Scorpion Light Tanks V150 Commando Light Armored Vehicles GKN Simba Light Armored Vehicles M101 105mm Howitzers M114 155mm Howitzers
Engagements	All-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
Attack	OV10 Bronco
Fighter	F5 Freedom S211 Amaechi
Helicopter	Bell 512 Bell 514
Attack helicopter	MG-525 Defender Attack Helicopters AH-S70 Spirit Attack Gunship Helicopters
Cargo helicopter	C130 Hercules
Multirole helicopter	UH-1H Huey Helicopters Bell 412 Bell 414
Utility helicopter	UH-1H Huey Helicopters
Patrol	C130 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.

History

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

• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• AFP Western Mindanao Command
• AFP Eastern Mindanao Command

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. Robinson, Linda; Johnston, Patrick B.; Oak, Gillian S. (Apr 6, 2016). "U.S. Special Operations Forces in the Philippines, 2001-2014" (PDF). www.rand.org. ISBN   978-0-8330-9210-6 . Retrieved August 14, 2025.
6. Noble, Lela (1976). "Philippines 1976: The contrast between shrine and shanty" . Asian Survey. 17 (2) (1st ed.). San Jose, California: 138. doi:10.2307/2643471. JSTOR   2643471.

External links

• Official site of the AFP

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