The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. The President of the Philippines is the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP and forms military policy with the Department of National Defense, an executive department acting as the principal organ by which military policy is carried out, while the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines serves as the overall commander and the highest-ranking officer in the AFP.
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.
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.
Pelagio Almazar Cruz was the first Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff from the Philippine Air Force. He was the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force in two occasions from its transition from Philippine Army Air Corps in 1947 to 1951 and again in 1953 to 1956. He is considered as the father of Philippine Air Force.
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.
Jesus Miranda Vargas served as Secretary of National Defense and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In his later years, he was the Secretary-General of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) which was based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Emmanuel Trinidad Bautista is a Filipino general who served as the 44th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as he succeeded Gen. Jessie Dellosa as AFP Chief. He served as the Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice, and Peace at the Office of the President, Malacañang. His appointment as Undersecretary at the Office of the President was from 1 September 2014 to 22 June 2020 shortly after retirement from the military service as Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines. Concurrently, he headed the National Task Force on the Whole of Nation Initiative and was also the executive Director of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea. He was succeeded by Gregorio Pio Catapang as AFP chief.
Hernando Delfin Carmelo Arreza Iriberri is a retired Filipino soldier, and was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from July 2015 to April 2016. He had previously been the 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army since February 7, 2014.
Eduardo Manahan Año is a Filipino public official and retired general of the Philippine Army who currently serves as the National Security Adviser under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos since 2023. He previously served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2018 to 2022, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2016 to 2017, and the Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 2015 to 2016. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, Año, along with the rest of the Philippine government's Cabinet Secretaries, became part of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a task force formed to advise the President on the strategies which would effectively manage the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Glorioso Ventura Miranda is a retired Filipino soldier who is the former Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He served as acting Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from April 22 to June 30, 2016. Before becoming the 46th Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces last March 8, 2016, he was the Commanding General of the AFP Northern Luzon Command from August 13, 2015. He was also the former commander of the 7th Infantry Division. He is part of the Matikas Class of the Philippine Military Academy of 1983.
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.
Cirilito Elola Sobejana is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the 55th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte. He is also known for having been awarded the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medal of Valor in 1995 for his valiant actions in Basilan against the extremist guerrilla group Abu Sayyaf.
The Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Air Force, the aerial warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant General. The holder of the position has operational control and is responsible for overall operations of the service, and directly reports to the Chief of Staff of the armed forces.
Noel Segovia Clement is a retired Filipino general who previously served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, he served as the commander of the AFP Central Command, and the 10th Infantry Division. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy "Sandiwa" Class of 1985.
Gilbert Italia Gapay is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the 54th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment, he served as the 61st Chief of the Army and the commander of the Armor "Pambato" Division.
Jose Calingasan Faustino Jr. is a retired Philippine Army general who previously served as Senior Undersecretary and officer-in-charge of the Department of National Defense.
Andres Castor Centino is a retired Philippine Army general who has served as the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from January to July 2023 and previously from 2021 to 2022. He previously served as the 64th commanding general of the Philippine Army in 2021 and commander of the 4th Infantry Division from 2020 to 2021. Upon his retirement in 2023, Centino was named by President Bongbong Marcos as Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea.
Diomedio Villanueva was retired Philippine Army General who served as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 2001 - 2002. He succeeded General Angelo Reyes who was appointed as Secretary of National Defense upon his mandatory retirement.
Lisandro C. Abadia was a Philippine Army General who served as 24th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1991 to 1994. He bested 4 other candidates who are more experience and senior. He also served as The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and Commanding General of the Philippine Army prior being appointed as Chief of Staff.
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