# Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP) is the highest-ranking military officer (except for the President of the Philippines, who holds the position of Commander-in-Chief equivalent to a five-star general) and the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including all service branches (Army, Air Force, Navy–Marine Corps) 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 within the military hierarchy and is responsible for the overall operations of the AFP.
The holder of this position is appointed by, as well as directly reports to the President of the Philippines under the Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution. He executes the President's commands, tactics, operations, plannings, and strategies, as well as serves as the Immediate Adviser to the Secretary of National Defense. He also prescribes directions to all commands (including the Commanding General of the Philippine Army, the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, the Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy, the Commanders of the AFP Unified Commands, and the AFP Board of Generals).
The Armed Forces of the Philippines were created as a result of the Commonwealth Act No. 1, also known as the National Defense Act of 1935. However, the origin of the organization can be traced back to the establishment of the Philippine Constabulary, armed Filipino forces organized in 1901 by the United States to combat the Philippine Revolutionary Army then led by General Emilio Aguinaldo.

## History

The position of the Chief of Staff has been traced from the Commanding General of the Philippine Army, when the Philippine Commonwealth Army (now the Philippine Army) was established as the main army of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. After the defeat of the First Philippine Republic during the Philippine–American War, the United States dissolved the army and relied on its armed forces together with some Filipino troops under the Philippine Constabulary. However, the National Defense Act of 1935 led to take on responsibilities on national defense and pave way for the creation of three major commands (Army, Air Force, Navy). Since the 1960s, the rosters of the Chiefs of Staff is arranged accordingly.
On June 19, 2020, under the DND Order no. 174, the title of Chief of Staff was renamed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, while the Vice-Chief of Staff as vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and The Deputy Chief of Staff as Chief of the Joint Staff. Although the usage of these titles were deferred.

## Organization and term limit

The AFP Chief of Staff is assisted by the Vice-Chief of Staff of the AFP (VCSAFP) and The Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP (TDCSAFP), both holders of the rank of Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral. The Vice-Chief of Staff serves as the primary assistant of the AFP Chief of Staff in their operational duties, as well as in policy conceptualization and implementation matters in the AFP, and also assists the AFP Chief of Staff in their absence. The Deputy Chief of Staff (TDCS) is tasked to supervise the organizational staff, including the Joint Staff, the Special Staff, the Administrative and the Technical Staff. The Deputy Chief of Staff is also responsible for assisting the AFP's overall policy and strategy formations, and perform other duties assigned by the AFP Chief of Staff. These posts are also assisted by the Secretary Joint Staff (SJS), who serves as the executive officer for the AFP Chief of Staff, the Vice-Chief of Staff, and The Deputy Chief of Staff. The AFP Chief of Staff is also advised on enlisted personnel matters by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Sergeant Major (AFPSM).
The AFP Chief of Staff has no definite or fixed term limit, under Republic Act No. 8186, as the term limit of the AFP Chief of Staff, along with all uniformed members of the AFP, has a mandatory retirement age at 56 years old. Nevertheless, the AFP Chief of Staff's term can be extended and allows a flexible term while serving beyond the mandatory retirement age, as the AFP Chief of Staff can serve their post until 3 years. Plans to reform the current system were made in 2011, but was vetoed by then-President Benigno Aquino III. An updated bill is currently being crafted since 2020, which aims to create a fixed term of 3 years for the AFP Chief of Staff, the Vice-Chief of Staff, The Deputy Chief of Staff, the commanders of the three major services (Army, Navy, Air Force), the commanders of the unified commands (NOLCOM, SOLCOM, WESCOM, VISCOM, WESTMINCOM, EASTMINCOM), the commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, the commander of the AFP Special Operations Command, and the commander of the upcoming Cyber Security Command; while the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will have a 4-year term in their post, and will not be allowed to be reappointed in other higher posts. The bill also allows the president to remove the sitting AFP chief of staff at his/her pleasure within their 3-year term. Once passed and enacted into law, the new law aims to increase the flexibility, organizational professionalism and effectiveness in their respective roles. On May 16, 2022, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act No. 11709, which serves as the new law that enables a three-year fixed term for key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the Chief of Staff of the AFP.

### Fixed-term issues under R.A. No. 11709

Months after the signing of the new term law, reports were being made on the possible rumbling in the AFP Hierarchy due to the complications caused by the Republic Act No. 11709 from the promotions of younger officers and to the reduction of promoted officers within the senior officers rank (Major-Colonel/Lieutenant Commander-Captain) due to the reduced tenure limits, which caused anxiety regarding the lowering of a merit-based promotion system. The issue also got more friction from an editorial article written by former AFP spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo PN(M) (Ret.) in The Manila Times named "The fates of two AFP chiefs of staff", which tackles about the appointment of Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro as AFP Chief, who is retiring earlier than his predecessor General Andres Centino, which makes Centino's position more higher than Bacarro's. Due to these problems, a revised law was crafted to solve the problems, which led to the ratification of Republic Act no. 11939, which was signed by President Bongbong Marcos on May 17, 2023. Under the new law, the reduced number of officials who will have a fixed term to only five, namely the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (three-year tenure); the Commanding General of the Philippine Army, the Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, the Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy (two-year tenure) and the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (four-year tenure). The law also allows their fixed terms to be completely terminated upon the President's pleasure. Amidst the swirling rumors on the potential replacement of the AFP chief regarding the seniority problem, the issues within the top brass was resolved on January 7, 2023, as General Andres Centino was reappointed as the AFP Chief replacing Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.

## Office Holders

| No. | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Service branch |
| - | Reyes, Jose de losBrigadier General Jose Delos Reyes (1874–1945) Acting | January 11, 1936 | May 4, 1936 | 114 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 1 | Santos, PaulinoMajor General Paulino Santos (1890–1945) | May 4, 1936 | December 31, 1938 | 2 years, 241 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 2 | Valdez, BasilioMajor General Basilio Valdes (1912–1970) | January 1, 1939 | November 7, 1945 | 6 years, 310 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 3 | Jalandoni, RafaelMajor General Rafael Jalandoni (1894–1949) | December 21, 1945 | December 20, 1948 | 2 years, 365 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 4 | Castañeda, MarianoMajor General Mariano Castañeda (1905–1970) | December 21, 1948 | May 28, 1951 | 2 years, 158 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 5 | Duque, CalixtoMajor General Calixto Duque (1893–1972) | June 2, 1951 | December 30, 1953 | 2 years, 211 days | Philippine Army |
| 6 | Vargas, JesusLieutenant General Jesus Vargas (1905–1994) | December 30, 1953 | December 29, 1956 | 2 years, 365 days | Philippine Army |
| 7 | Arellano, AlfonsoLieutenant General Alfonso Arellano (1905–1957) | December 29, 1956 | December 31, 1958 | 2 years, 2 days | Philippine Army |
| 8 | Cabal, ManuelLieutenant General Manuel Cabal | January 1, 1959 | December 30, 1961 | 2 years, 363 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 9 | Cruz, PelagioLieutenant General Pelagio Cruz (1912–1986) | December 31, 1961 | August 31, 1962 | 243 days | Philippine Air Force |
| 10 | Santos, AlfredoGeneral Alfredo Santos (1905–1990) | September 1, 1962 | July 12, 1965 | 2 years, 314 days | Philippine Army |
| 11 | Atienza, RigobertoGeneral Rigoberto Atienza (1911–1966) | July 13, 1965 | January 22, 1966 | 193 days | Philippine Army |
| 12 | Mata, ErnestoGeneral Ernesto Mata (1915–2012) | January 22, 1966 | January 21, 1967 | 364 days | Philippine Army |
| 13 | Osias, VictorGeneral Victor Osias | January 21, 1967 | August 15, 1967 | 206 days | Philippine Air Force |
| 14 | Velasco, SegundoGeneral Segundo Velasco (born 1918) | August 16, 1967 | May 27, 1968 | 285 days | Philippine Army |
| 15 | Yan, ManuelGeneral Manuel T. Yan (1920–2008) | May 28, 1968 | January 15, 1972 | 3 years, 232 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 16 | Espino, RomeoGeneral Romeo Espino (1914–2003) | January 15, 1972 | August 15, 1981 | 9 years, 212 days | Philippine Army |
| 17 | Ver, FabianGeneral Fabian Ver (1920–1998) | August 15, 1981 | October 24, 1984 | 3 years, 70 days 85 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| - | Ramos, FidelLieutenant General Fidel Ramos (1928–2022) Acting | October 24, 1984 | December 2, 1985 | 1 year, 39 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| (17) | Ver, FabianGeneral Fabian Ver (1920–1998) | December 2, 1985 | February 25, 1986 | 85 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 18 | Ramos, FidelGeneral Fidel Ramos (1928–2022) | February 25, 1986 | January 25, 1988 | 1 year, 334 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 19 | de Villa, RenatoGeneral Renato de Villa (1935–2006) | January 25, 1988 | January 23, 1991 | 2 years, 363 days | Philippine Constabulary |
| 20 | Biazon, RodolfoGeneral Rodolfo Biazon (1935–2023) | January 24, 1991 | April 12, 1991 | 78 days | Philippine Marine Corps |
| 21 | Abadia, LisandroGeneral Lisandro Abadia (1938–2022) | April 12, 1991 | April 12, 1994 | 3 years, 0 days | Philippine Army |
| 22 | Enrile, ArturoGeneral Arturo Enrile (1940–1998) | April 12, 1994 | November 28, 1996 | 2 years, 230 days | Philippine Army |
| 23 | Acedera, ArnulfoGeneral Arnulfo Acedera Jr. (1941–2020) | November 28, 1996 | December 31, 1997 | 1 year, 33 days | Philippine Air Force |
| 24 | Mariano, ClementeGeneral Clemente Mariano | January 1, 1998 | July 1, 1998 | 181 days | Philippine Army |
| 25 | Nazareno, JoselinGeneral Joselin Nazareno | July 1, 1998 | July 8, 1999 | 1 year, 7 days | Philippine Army |
| 26 | Reyes, AngeloGeneral Angelo Reyes (1945–2011) | July 8, 1999 | March 17, 2001 | 1 year, 252 days | Philippine Army |
| 27 | Villanueva, DiomedioGeneral Diomedio Villanueva (1945–2023) | March 17, 2001 | May 18, 2002 | 1 year, 62 days | Philippine Army |
| 28 | Cimatu, RoyGeneral Roy Cimatu (born 1946) | May 18, 2002 | September 10, 2002 | 115 days | Philippine Army |
| 29 | Defensor, Benjamin Jr.General Benjamin Defensor Jr. | September 10, 2002 | November 28, 2002 | 79 days | Philippine Air Force |
| 30 | Santiago, DionisioGeneral Dionisio Santiago | November 28, 2002 | April 8, 2003 | 131 days | Philippine Army |
| 31 | Abaya, NarcisoGeneral Narciso Abaya (born 1950) | April 8, 2003 | October 29, 2004 | 1 year, 204 days | Philippine Army |
| 32 | Abu, EfrenGeneral Efren Abu | October 29, 2004 | August 15, 2005 | 290 days | Philippine Army |
| 33 | Senga, GenerosoGeneral Generoso Senga | August 15, 2005 | July 22, 2006 | 341 days | Philippine Army |
| 34 | Esperon, Hermogenes Jr.General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. (born 1952) | July 22, 2006 | May 12, 2008 | 1 year, 295 days | Philippine Army |
| 35 | Yano, AlexanderGeneral Alexander Yano | May 12, 2008 | May 1, 2009 | 354 days | Philippine Army |
| 36 | Ibrado, VictorGeneral Victor Ibrado | May 1, 2009 | March 10, 2010 | 313 days | Philippine Army |
| 37 | Bangit, DelfinGeneral Delfin Bangit (1955–2013) | March 10, 2010 | June 22, 2010 | 104 days | Philippine Army |
| – | Ochoa, NestorLieutenant General Nestor Ochoa Acting | June 22, 2010 | June 30, 2010 | 8 days | Philippine Army |
| 38 | David, Ricardo Jr.General Ricardo David (born 1955) | July 2, 2010 | March 7, 2011 | 248 days | Philippine Army |
| 39 | Oban, Eduardo Jr.General Eduardo Oban Jr. (born 1955) | March 7, 2011 | December 12, 2011 | 280 days | Philippine Air Force |
| 40 | Dellosa, JessieGeneral Jessie Dellosa (born 1957) | December 12, 2011 | January 20, 2013 | 1 year, 39 days | Philippine Army |
| 41 | Bautista, EmmanuelGeneral Emmanuel Bautista (born 1958) | January 20, 2013 | July 18, 2014 | 1 year, 179 days | Philippine Army |
| 42 | Catapang, Gregorio PioGeneral Gregorio Pio Catapang (born 1959) | July 18, 2014 | July 10, 2015 | 357 days | Philippine Army |
| 43 | Catapang, Gregorio PioGeneral Hernando Iriberri (born 1960) | July 10, 2015 | April 22, 2016 | 287 days | Philippine Army |
| – | Miranda, GloriosoLieutenant General Glorioso Miranda (born 1961) Acting | April 22, 2016 | June 30, 2016 | 69 days | Philippine Army |
| 44 | Visaya, RicardoGeneral Ricardo Visaya (born 1960) | July 1, 2016 | December 7, 2016 | 159 days | Philippine Army |
| 45 | Año, EduardoGeneral Eduardo Año (born 1961) | December 7, 2016 | October 26, 2017 | 323 days | Philippine Army |
| 46 | Guerrero, Rey LeonardoGeneral Rey Leonardo Guerrero (born 1961) | October 26, 2017 | April 18, 2018 | 174 days | Philippine Army |
| 47 | Galvez, Carlito, Jr.General Carlito Galvez Jr. (born 1962) | April 18, 2018 | December 11, 2018 | 237 days | Philippine Army |
| 48 | Madrigal, Benjamin, Jr.General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. (born 1963) | December 11, 2018 | September 24, 2019 | 287 days | Philippine Army |
| 49 | Clement, NoelGeneral Noel Clement (born 1964) | September 24, 2019 | January 4, 2020 | 102 days | Philippine Army |
| 50 | Santos, FelimonGeneral Felimon Santos Jr. (born 1964) | January 4, 2020 | August 3, 2020 | 212 days | Philippine Army |
| 51 | Gapay, GilbertGeneral Gilbert Gapay (born 1965) | August 3, 2020 | February 4, 2021 | 185 days | Philippine Army |
| 52 | Sobejana, CirilitoGeneral Cirilito Sobejana (born 1965) | February 4, 2021 | July 31, 2021 | 177 days | Philippine Army |
| 53 | Faustino, Jose Jr.General Jose Faustino Jr. (born 1965) | July 31, 2021 | November 12, 2021 | 104 days | Philippine Army |
| 54 | Centino, AndresGeneral Andres Centino (born 1967) | November 12, 2021 | August 8, 2022 | 269 days | Philippine Army |
| 55 | Bacarro, Bartolome Vicente O.Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro (born 1966) | August 8, 2022 | January 6, 2023 | 151 days | Philippine Army |
| 56 | Centino, AndresGeneral Andres Centino (born 1967) | January 6, 2023 | July 21, 2023 | 196 days | Philippine Army |
| 57 | Brawner, Romeo Jr.General Romeo Brawner Jr. (born 1968) | July 21, 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 188 days | Philippine Army |