AFP Southern Luzon Command

Southern Luzon Command
Southern Luzon Command
	Coat of Arms of the AFP Southern Luzon Command
Active	1 January 1987 – 15 January 2001; 27 March 2001 – Present
Country	Philippines
Role	Conventional and Unconventional Warfare, Anti-Guerrilla Operations
Part of	Armed Forces of the Philippines
Garrison/HQ	Camp Guillermo Nakar, Lucena City, Quezon
Nickname(s)	SOLCOM
Motto(s)	Katapangan
Mascot(s)	Dagger
Anniversaries	January 1
Engagements	Anti-guerilla operations against the NPA and local criminal elements
Decorations	; Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge
Commanders
Current; commander	MGen. Efren P. Baluyot, AFP
Notable; commanders	LtGen. Ricardo Visaya, AFP; LtGen. Delfin Bangit, AFP; LtGen. Alexander Yano, AFP; LtGen. Pedro R. Cabuay, AFP; MGen. Roy Kyamko, AFP; MGen. Ernesto Carolina; MGen. Narciso Abaya, AFP; MGen. Diomedio Villanueva, AFP; MGen. Voltaire Gazmin, AFP; MGen. Clemente Mariano, AFP; BGen. Raymundo Jarque, AFP; MGen. Restituto Padilla, AFP; BGen. Alejandro A. Galido, AFP; MGen. Antonio R. Samonte, AFP
Insignia
Unit Patch	Southern Luzon Command Emblem

Last updated August 12, 2023

The Southern Luzon Command (abbrv. as SOLCOM) is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the Bicol region but excludes the Palawan Islands. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency.

History

Mission

Their mission is to conduct sustained Internal Security Operations (ISO) in Southern Luzon to neutralize the Communist-Terrorist Movement (CTM) and reduce their operational capabilities. One of their missions is to support local Law Enforcement as well as the Philippine National Police in containing the NPA while supporting the peace process; and destroy the JI network operating in their AOR. This is needed to establish a secured backdoor to mainland Luzon and maintain a physically & psychologically sound environment conducive to growth and development in this southernmost part of the island.

Lineage of Commanding Generals

MGen. Restituto G. Padilla, AFP – (01 January 1987 – 30 June 1987)
MGen. Antonio R. Samonte, AFP – (01 July 1987 – 25 March 1988)
BGen. Alejandro A. Galido, AFP – (26 March 1988 – 26 January 1990)
BGen. Evaristo G. Carino, AFP – (27 January 1990 – 18 March 1990)
BGen. Federico F. Ruiz, AFP – (19 March 1990 – 22 March 1992)
MGen. Cesar F. Fortuno, AFP – (23 March 1992 – 31 March 1993)
BGen. Raymundo T. Jarque, AFP – (31 March 1993 – 30 January 1994)
MGen. Oswaldo P. Villanueva, AFP – (08 March 1994 – 20 July 1995)
MGen. Clemente P. Mariano, AFP – (23 July 1995 – 19 March 1996)
MGen. Jose Maria G. Solquillo, AFP – (15 March 1996 – 22 April 1997)
MGen. Samuel T. Dunque, AFP – (22 June 1997 – 27 August 1998)
MGen. Voltaire T. Gazmin, AFP – (21 September 1998 – 16 July 1999)
MGen. Diomedio P. Villanueva, AFP – (16 July 1999 – 01 March 2000)
MGen. Jose S. Lachica, AFP – (01 March 2000 – 16 March 2001)
MGen. Narciso L. Abaya, AFP – (28 March 2001 – 12 December 2001)
MGen. Ernesto G. Carolina, AFP – (13 December 2001 – 21 May 2002)
MGen. Roy V. Kyamko, AFP – (23 May 2002 – 11 May 2003)
LtGen. Alfonso P. Dagudag, AFP – (12 May 2003 – 26 October 2004)
LtGen. Pedro R. Cabuay, AFP – (26 October 2004 – 30 July 2006)
LtGen. Alexander B. Yano, AFP – (31 July 2006 – 24 August 2007)^[1]^[2]
LtGen. Rodolfo S. Obaniana, AFP – (25 August 2007 – 06 May 2008 )^[3]^[4]
LtGen. Delfin N. Bangit, AFP – (06 May 2008 – 01 May 2009)^[5]
LtGen. Roland M. Detabali, AFP – (01 May 2009 – 16 July 2012)^[6]
MGen. Eduardo D. del Rosario, AFP – (16 July 2012 – 28 September 2012) (acting)
MGen. Alan R. Luga, AFP – (28 September 2012 – 04 March 2013)^[7]
LtGen. Caesar Ronnie F. Ordoyo, AFP – (04 March 2013 – 08 September 2014)^[8]
LtGen. Ricardo R. Visaya, AFP – (08 September 2014 – 01 July 2016)
MGen. Romeo G. Gan, AFP – (01 July 2016 – 15 August 2016) (acting)^[9]
LtGen. Ferdinand F. Quidilla, AFP – (15 August 2016 – 18 August 2017)^[10]
LtGen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., AFP – (18 August 2017 – 14 December 2017)^[11]
LtGen. Danilo G. Pamonag, AFP – (14 December 2017 – 15 January 2019)^[12]^[13]
LtGen. Gilbert I. Gapay, AFP – (15 January 2019 – 06 December 2019)^[14]
MGen. Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos Jr., AFP – (06 December 2019 – 17 January 2020) (acting)
LtGen. Antonio G. Parlade Jr., AFP – (17 January 2020 – 24 July 2021)^[15]
LtGen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro, AFP – (24 July 2021 – 08 August 2022)^[16]
BGen. Armand M. Arevalo, AFP – (08 August 2022 – 25 November 2022) (acting)
MGen. Efren P. Baluyot, AFP – (25 November 2022 – Present)

Organization

The following are the units that are under the Southern Luzon Command.

2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, PA
9th Infantry (SPEAR) Division, PA
Naval Forces Southern Luzon, PN
Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon, PAF

Operations

Anti-guerrilla operations against the New People's Army
Anti-terrorist operations against known terror groups operating in their AOR.

Awards and decorations

Campaign streamers

Award Streamer	Streamer Name	Operation	Date Awarded	Reference
	Presidential Unit Citation Badge	SAR/DRR Ops, TS Ketsana	4 February 2010	General Orders No. 112, GHQ-AFP, dtd 04 Feb '10
	Presidential Unit Citation Badge	General Elections, Philippines	1 July 2010	General Orders No. 641, GHQ-AFP, dtd 1 July '10

Badges

Military Badge	Badge Name	Operation	Date Awarded	Reference
	AFP Election Duty Badge	General Elections, Philippines	21 May 2010	General Orders No. 513, GHQ-AFP, dtd 21 May '10

Related Research Articles

The 1st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, nicknamed Tabak Division, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare. The division has been involved in combating terrorists in Southern Mindanao.

The 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army nicknamed Jungle Fighter, is the Philippine Army's primary infantry unit specializing in jungle warfare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFP Eastern Mindanao Command</span> Military unit

The Eastern Mindanao Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga regions. 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.

The Northern Luzon Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, including the Scarborough Shoal and the Benham Rise. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Mindanao Command</span> Military unit

The Western Mindanao Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the BARMM. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Capital Regional Command</span> Military unit

The National Capital Regional Command, known officially as the NCRCom or NCRC, is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' former Wide Support Commands Combating Terrorism-Insurgency and act as support units to the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region in maintaining peace and order within Metro Manila. They also support SoLCom in anti-dissidence operations in Cavite and Laguna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFP Visayas Command</span> Military unit

The Visayas Command is the Armed Forces of the Philippines' unified command in charge of all the visayas islands. It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency. It was formerly known as the Central Command (CENTCOM) before being effectively renamed on 11 August 2021 based on the approved memorandum from the Department of National Defense.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College, known officially as the AFPCGSC or GSC, is one of the training units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is tasked with training future generals, as well as general and command staff, and developing doctrine, training materials and courses for the AFP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Infantry Division (Philippines)</span> Military unit

The 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, known officially as the Storm Trooper Division, is one of the Philippine Army's Infantry units in the Visayas and under the AFP Central Command, combating local communist insurgent units, and terrorists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delfin Bangit</span>

Delfin N. Bangit was a retired Philippine Army general who served as the 39th Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines for four months in 2010. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Air Force Reserve Command</span> Military unit

The Air Force Reserve Command, known officially as the AIR RESCOM or RESCOM, is one of the Philippine Air Force's Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command</span> Military unit

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command, known officially as the AFP RESCOM or RESCOM, is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer and the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including all service branches under its command. The position is usually held by a four-star rank of General or Admiral. Its direct equivalent in the US Armed Forces is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Unlike its US counterpart, which is merely supervisory, the Chief of Staff has complete operational control and is responsible for the overall operations of the AFP.

The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Army, the ground warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant General. He has operational control and is responsible for overall operations of the army, and directly reports to the Chief of Staff of the armed forces.

Ricardo Ramoran Visaya is a retired Philippine Army general serving as the administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) since 2017. He was the 47th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from July to December 2016. He had also previously served as the commanding general of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, assistant division commander of the 6th Infantry Division, and commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He is from the class of 1983 (Matikas) of the Philippine Military Academy.

Bartolome Vicente Orpilla Bacarro is a retired Philippine Army lieutenant general who served as the 58th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2022 to 2023. He previously commanded the Southern Luzon Command. In 1991, Bacarro was awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor for his actions against the New People's Army in Maconacon, Isabela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Parlade Jr.</span> Former Filipino general

Antonio Gumba Parlade Jr. is a former Filipino military officer who retired as commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command in 2021, and was best known for his combative terms as spokesman for the Philippine Army before he was removed from that post in 2011, and later, as spokesperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

[[File:|thumb]]

Luzon Force or Bataan Defense Force is a short-lived Field Army size unit created in the Philippines after the restructure of command organized by General Douglas MacArthur commander of US Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). He wished to control the 4 Commands from Australia with its representative in Corregidor Island. Major General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV was selected to command as the senior general officer in Bataan peninsula.

United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) was created due to the confusion caused by General Douglas MacArthur's departure to Australia. Based on this reorganization, forces in Bataan will be under new command Luzon Force under MGen. Jonathan M. Wainwright as the senior general officer in Bataan, the Visayan-Mindanao Force under MGen. Sharp will be split to Visayan Force under BGen. Bradford Chynoweth, Mindanao Force under MGen. William F. Sharp, and Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays under MGen. George Moore will independent from each other and will directly report to General MacArthur's USAFFE headquarters in Australia through his representative Col. Lewis Beebe formerly his G4 in Corregidor; he promoted Col. Beebe to BGen and made him Deputy Chief of Staff, USAFFE. US War Department in Washington has started addressing MGen. Wainwright as CG, USFIP as General MacArthur still needs to inform Washington of the new structure. The War Department, through General George C. Marshall, found the structure unsatisfactory and anticipating the Philippines would soon be isolated. In the end, it decided to have one commander in the Philippines, BGen. Lewis Beebe followed the directive from Washington, D.C., and turnover the correspondence to Wainwright.

References

↑ "Arroyo taps 2 retired generals to oversee AFP procurement". Philippine Information Agency. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
↑ "Solcom chief vows to protect journalists". Philippine Information Agency. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
↑ "DND announces impending leadership change at AFP". GMA News. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
↑ "Yano named next Army chief". Philippine Star. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
↑ "LGen Delfin Bangit Biography". All Partners Access Network. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
↑ "SOLCOM chief bowing out of service". Interaksyon. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
↑ "MGEN LUGA ACCEPTS NEW POST AS SOLCOM COMMANDER". PIA Sorsogon. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
↑ "New SOLCOM chief assumes duty at turn-over of command rites". Balita. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
↑ "Visit of MGEN ROMEO G GAN AFP, GOIC, SOLCOM". 12 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
↑ "Lieutenant General Quidilla takes over the leadership of Southern Luzon Command". 15 August 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
↑ "ISAFP chief next 4th ID head". 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
↑ ""Southern Luzon Change of Command Ceremony"". 18 December 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
↑ "Ranking military commanders get new stars". 4 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
↑ "Southern Luzon soldiers to be 'guardians of peace,' acting Solcom chief vows". 15 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
↑ Gotinga, J. C. "Antonio Parlade Jr is new Southern Luzon military commander". Rappler. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
↑ "Parlade retires, Bacarro assumes post as Solcom chief". GMA News. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.

External links

Official Site of the AFP SoLCom

13°57′18.04″N121°36′32.22″E / 13.9550111°N 121.6089500°E / 13.9550111; 121.6089500

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Arroyo taps 2 retired generals to oversee AFP procurement". Philippine Information Agency. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

[2] "Solcom chief vows to protect journalists". Philippine Information Agency. 1 September 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

[3] "DND announces impending leadership change at AFP". GMA News. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

[4] "Yano named next Army chief". Philippine Star. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

[bangit-5] "LGen Delfin Bangit Biography". All Partners Access Network. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

[detabali-6] "SOLCOM chief bowing out of service". Interaksyon. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

[luga-7] "MGEN LUGA ACCEPTS NEW POST AS SOLCOM COMMANDER". PIA Sorsogon. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

[ordoyo-8] "New SOLCOM chief assumes duty at turn-over of command rites". Balita. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2016.

[romeogan-9] "Visit of MGEN ROMEO G GAN AFP, GOIC, SOLCOM". 12 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.

[quidilla-10] "Lieutenant General Quidilla takes over the leadership of Southern Luzon Command". 15 August 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2017.

[madrigal-11] "ISAFP chief next 4th ID head". 21 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.

[pamonag-12] ""Southern Luzon Change of Command Ceremony"". 18 December 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

[13] "Ranking military commanders get new stars". 4 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.

[gapay-14] "Southern Luzon soldiers to be 'guardians of peace,' acting Solcom chief vows". 15 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2019.

[Antonio_Parlade_Jr_is_new_Southern_Luzon_military_commander-15] Gotinga, J. C. "Antonio Parlade Jr is new Southern Luzon military commander". Rappler. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

[ParladeRetires-16] "Parlade retires, Bacarro assumes post as Solcom chief". GMA News. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

v t e Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)	General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command (GHQ-HSC) Presidential Security Group (PSG) Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College (AFP-CGSC) Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command (AFP-RESCOM) Northern Luzon Command (AFP-NOLCOM) Southern Luzon Command (AFP-SOLCOM) AFP Joint Task Force - National Capital Region (JTF-NCR) Central Command (AFP-CENTCOM) Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) Eastern Mindanao Command (AFP-EASTMINCOM) Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WESTMINCOM) Special Operations Command (AFP-SOCOM) Peacekeeping Operations Center (AFP-PKOC)
Leadership	President Secretary of National Defense Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Chief of the Army Chief of the Navy Chief of the Air Force Commandant of the Marine Corps
Army	Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM)
Air Force	Air Force Reserve Command Air Education and Training Command
Navy	Marine Corps Navy Reserve Command
Coast Guard	Coast Guard Auxiliary
Wars and conflicts	Philippine Revolution Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War II Operation Enduring Freedom
See also: Reserve Officers' Training Corps • Military Ordinariate of the Philippines