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Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

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Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Flag of the Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Incumbent
Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura, PAF
since November 25, 2022
Department of National Defense
TypeMilitary Leadership
StatusActive
AbbreviationVCSAFP
Member ofAFP Board of Generals
Reports toSecretary of National Defense (SND)
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP)
ResidenceCamp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines
SeatCamp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines
NominatorAFP Board of Generals
AppointerPresident of the Republic of the Philippines with Commission of Appointment approval
Term lengthMandatory Retirement Age at 57
PrecursorVice-Chief of Staff of the Philippine Commonwealth Army
FormationSeptember 28, 1899
First holderMajor General Ambrosio Flores
SuccessionThe Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Chief of Army
Unofficial namesVice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
DeputyThe Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Vice-Chief of Staff sometimes appointed to lower post with the same rank.

The Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (VCSAFP) is the second highest military officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As principal assistant of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he or she assists in administrative matters and in their operational duties, as well as in policy conceptualization and implementation matters in the AFP, while Chief of Staff focus on military operations and the country's security. The Vice-Chief of Staff also assists the AFP Chief of Staff in their absence and presides the meeting on the AFP Chief of Staff's behalf. The Vice-Chief of Staff holds a rank of 3-star officer as Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral (O-9) and is appointed by the President of the Philippines who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

The 48th and incumbent Vice-Chief of Staff is Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura, who assumed the post on November 22, 2022.

Background

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The position of Vice-Chief of Staff can be traced prior the Philippine–American War in 1899 were in General Ambrosio Flores was selected as Assistant Chief of Operations under General Antonio Luna. He took command in acting capacity upon his death in June 1899 until General Aguinaldo took over the command of revolutionary army personally until the end of the war on March 23, 1901, upon the capture of Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela.

Under the Commonwealth Act No. 1 or also known as National Defense Act of 1935 the position again was created to assist the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Which led to the creation of three major services in the following years Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marine Corps. While there were officers from the Philippine Constabulary that became Vice-Chief of Staff, the service has been dissolved and transition to civilian law enforcement service Philippine National Police (PNP). In 1982 Major General Fidel V. Ramos was appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff and concurrent Chief of the Philippine Constabulary and Director General of the Integrated National Police. He was later appointed Chief of Staff after EDSA revolution.[1]

On June 19, 2020, under the DND Order no. 174, the title of Vice-Chief of Staff was renamed as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, while the Chief of Staff as 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

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Under the AFP Hierarchy, the Vice-Chief of Staff holds a rank of 3-star general officer rank, either Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral. The Vice-Chief of Staff of the AFP is nominated by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the AFP Board of Generals and will also be required to be subject to hearings under the Commission on Appointments for them to be formally approved in their positions. The Vice-Chief of Staff has no fixed term and is subject to mandatory retirement upon reaching the age of 57 under the Republic Act No. 11939 and is also eligible to be appointed as the AFP Chief of Staff, unless appointed by the president.[2]








Officeholders

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This is the list of officers who were appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff or Acting Capacity. In all 9 came from Philippine Constabulary before it was deactivated, 29 from the Philippine Army, 2 from Philippine Marine Corps, 6 from the Philippine Air Force, and 6 from the Philippine Navy.

No. Portrait Vice-Chief of Staff Took office Left office Time in office Service Branch Ref.
1
Ambrosio Flores
Flores, AmbrosioBrigadier General
Ambrosio Flores
(March 20, 1843–June 12, 1912)
Assistant Chief of War Operations
June 6, 1898January 4, 19001 year, 4 days
Philippine Revolutionary Army
[3]
2
Basilio Valdes
Valdes, BasilioBrigadier General
Basilio Valdes
January 11, 1935December 28, 1938124 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
3
Vicente Lim
Lim, VicenteBrigadier General
Vicente Lim
(1892–1945)
[a]
January 11, 1938May 4, 19423 years, 327 days
Philippine Army
[3]
4
Mariano Castañeda
Castañeda, MarianoBrigadier General
Mariano Castañeda
(December 20, 1892–September 8, 1970)
Served as concurrent Provost Marshal and Chief of Constabulary
January 11, 1946December 21, 19482 years, 345 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
5
Calixto Duque
Duque, CalixtoBrigadier General
Calixto Duque
January 11, 1949May 4, 19512 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
6
Jesus Vargas
Vargas, JesusBrigadier General
Jesus Vargas
January 11, 1951May 4, 19533 years, 114 days
Philippine Army
[3]
7
Eulogio Balao
Balao, EulogioBrigadier General
Eulogio Balao
[b]
January 1, 1954December 31, 19562 years, 113 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
8
Alfonso Arellano
Arellano, AlfonsoMajor General
Alfonso Arellano
January 1, 1956December 31, 1957364 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
9
Manuel Cabal
Cabal, ManuelMajor General
Manuel Cabal
January 1, 1958December 31, 19592 years, 113 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
10
Pelagio Cruz
Cruz, PelagioMajor General
Pelagio Cruz
January 1, 1959May 4, 19612 years, 354 days
Philippine Air Force
[3]
11
Alfredo Santos
Santos, AlfredoMajor General
Alfredo Santos
January 11, 1961May 4, 19622 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
12
Antonio De Veyra
De Veyra, AntonioMajor General
Antonio De Veyra
May 4, 1962December 31, 19642 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
14
Pedro Molina
Molina, PedroMajor General
Pedro Molina
July 12, 1964January 12, 1965195 days
Philippine Air Force
[3]
12
Ismael Lapus
Lapus, IsmaelMajor General
Ismael Lapus
May 4, 1965December 31, 19661 year, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
14
Victor Osias
Osias, VictorMajor General
Victor Osias
July 12, 1966January 12, 1967195 days
Philippine Air Force
[3]
15
Segundo Velasco
Velasco, SegundoLieutenant General
Segundo Velasco
August 16, 1967December 31, 19672 years, 113 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
16
Gaudencio Tobias
Tobias, GaudencioMajor General
Gaudencio Tobias
January 11, 1968May 4, 19694 years, 114 days
Philippine Army
[3]
16
Romeo Espino
Espino, RomeoMajor General
Romeo Espino
January 11, 1970May 4, 19724 years, 114 days
Philippine Army
[3]
17
Rafael Ileto
Ileto, RafaelLieutenant General
Rafael Ileto
[c] [d]
January 11, 1975May 4, 19816 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
19
Fidel V. Ramos
Ramos, FidelLieutenant General
Fidel V. Ramos
concurrent Chief of Constabulary and Director of Integrated National Police. He was Acting AFP Chief of Staff (1984-1985)
January 11, 1982February 26, 19864 years, 56 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
20
Salvador M. Mison
Mison, SalvadorLieutenant General
Salvador M. Mison
January 11, 1986May 4, 19882 years, 114 days
Philippine Army
[3]
21
Renato de Villa
De Villa, RenatoLieutenant General
Renato de Villa
[e]
January 11, 1986March 4, 19882 years, 113 days
Philippine Constabulary
[3]
22
Eduardo Ermita
Eduardo, ErmitaMajor General
Eduardo Ermita
March 4, 1988May 4, 1990114 days
Philippine Army
[3]
23
Rodolfo Biazon
Biazon, RodolfoLieutenant General
Rodolfo Biazon
[f]
January 11, 1990May 4, 19911 year, 113 days
Philippine Marine Corps
[3]
24
Guillermo Flores
Flores, GuillermoMajor General
Guillermo Flores
March 4, 1990May 4, 19922 years, 114 days
Philippine Army
[3]
25
Alberto Filler
Filler, AlbertoLieutenant General
Alberto Filler
[g]
January 11, 1993May 4, 19943 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
26
Clemente Mariano
Mariano, ClementeLieutenant General
Clemente Mariano
January 11, 1996May 4, 19971 year, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
27
Ismael Villareal
Villareal, IsmaelLieutenant General
Ismael Villareal
January 11, 1997July 16, 19981 year, 186 days
Philippine Army
[3]
28
Luisito Fernandez
Fernandez, LuisitoVice Admiral
Luisito Fernandez
February 04, 1998January 15, 1999227 days
Philippine Navy
[3]
-
Eduardo Maria Santos
Ma. Santos, EduardoVice Admiral
Eduardo Maria Santos
(Acting Capacity & concurrent Navy Flag Officer in Command)
January 1, 1999April 16, 1999105 days
Philippine Navy
[3]
29
Victor Mayo
Mayo, VictorLieutenant General
Victor Mayo
August 11, 1999April 12, 2000252 days
Philippine Army
[3]
30
Jose Calimlim
Calimlim, JoseLieutenant General
Jose Calimlim
April 12, 2000June 4, 20011 year, 22 days
Philippine Army
[3][4]
31
Gregorio Camiling
Camiling, GregorioLieutenant General
Gregorio Camiling
[h]
October 1, 2001November 15, 20021 year, 45 days
Philippine Army
[3]
32
Rodolfo Garcia
Garcia, RodolfoLieutenant General
Rodolfo Garcia
January 11, 2004May 4, 20052 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
33
Ariston Delos Reyes
Delos Reyes, AristonVice Admiral
Ariston Delos Reyes
(born February 16, 1950)
July 04, 2004February 16, 20061 year, 227 days
Philippine Navy
[3]
34
Antonio Romero
Romero, AntonioLieutenant General
Antonio Romero
April 30, 2006May 07, 20082 years, 7 days
Philippine Army
[3]
35
Cardozo Luna
Luna, CardozoLieutenant General
Cardozo Luna
[i]
January 11, 2008May 4, 20091 year, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
36
Rodrigo Maclang
Maclang, RodrigoLieutenant General
Rodrigo Maclang
April 30, 2009June 9, 20101 year, 40 days
Philippine Army
[3]
37
Nestor Z. Ochoa
Ochoa, NestorLieutenant General
Nestor Z. Ochoa
Acting Chief of Staff (April 2010 - July 2010)
June 9, 2010May 4, 20111 year, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
-
Mario Catacutan
Catacutan, MarioRear Admiral
Mario Catacutan
Acting Vice-Chief & concurrent Deputy Chief of Staff
June 30, 2010July 2, 20101 year, 0 days
Philippine Navy
[3]
38
Reynaldo Mapagu
Mapagu, ReynaldoLieutenant General
Reynaldo Mapagu
June 17, 2011October 12, 20121 year, 275 days
Philippine Army
[3]
39
Noel Coballes
Coballes, NoelLieutenant General
Noel Coballes
(born 1958)
October 19, 2012January 22, 201395 days
Philippine Army
[3]
40
Alan Luga
Luga, AlanLieutenant General
Alan Luga
February 5, 2013May 12, 20142 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
41
Gregorio Catapang Jr.
Catapang, GregorioLieutenant General
Gregorio Catapang Jr.
February 14, 2014July 18, 20142 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
42
John S. Bonafos
Bonafos, JohnLieutenant General
John S. Bonafos
January 11, 2015October 16, 20152 years, 113 days
Philippine Army
[3]
43
Romeo Tanalgo
Tanalgo, RomeoLieutenant General
Romeo Tanalgo
concurrent Commandant Philippine Marine Corps until 2016
October 16, 2015March 10, 2016202 days
Philippine Marine Corps
[3]
44
Glorioso Miranda
Miranda, GloriosoLieutenant General
Glorioso Miranda
(born October 8, 1961)
Acting AFP Chief of Staff April 12, 2016 - June 30, 2016 [j]
March 10, 2016January 12, 2017310 days
Philippine Army
[3]
45
Salvador Melchor B. Mison Jr
Mison, Salvador JrLieutenant General
Salvador Melchor B. Mison Jr
[k]
January 11, 2019May 4, 20201 year, 114 days
Philippine Air Force
[3]
46
Gaudencio Collado
Collado, GaudencioVice Admiral
Gaudencio Collado
June 20, 2019November 21, 20201 year, 154 days
Philippine Navy
[3]
47
Erickson Gloria
Gloria, EricksonLieutenant General
Erickson Gloria
November 21, 2019September 9, 20222 years, 292 days
Philippine Air Force
[3]
-
Rommel Anthony SD Reyes
Reyes, Rommel AnthonyVice Admiral
Rommel Anthony SD Reyes
Acting Capacity
September 9, 2022November 22, 202274 days
Philippine Navy
[3]
48
Arthur Cordura
Cordura, ArthurLieutenant General
Arthur Cordura
November 22, 2022Current1 year, 341 days
Philippine Air Force
[3]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Lim was the Vice-Chief of Staff while commanding 41st Infantry Division during WW2.
  2. ^ Balao was appointed as Secretary of National Defense upon retirement in 1956
  3. ^ Ileto was Ambassador to Iran and Turkey the entire term as Vice-Chief of staff. He continued upon retirement
  4. ^ Ileto founder of Scout Ranger Regiment, he was appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff in 1975 but was serving as ambassador to Iran and Turkmenistan until 1978. He took this position in 1978 - 1981 but was appointed again as Ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia months before his term expired. He was Secretary of National Defense in 1986 to 1988.
  5. ^ Appointed Chief of Staff and later Secretary of National Defense under President Fidel V. Ramos.
  6. ^ Biazon was appointed Chief of Staff for 3 months. He was elected Senator and Congressmen upon retirement.
  7. ^ Appointed as Director General of National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) upon retirement.
  8. ^ Appointed as Commanding General Philippine Army after his term as Vice-Chief of Staff
  9. ^ Cardozo Luna is decendant of General Antonio Luna, who served and died during second phase of revolutionary war.
  10. ^ Served in acting capacity as Chief of Staff for 2 months and appointed Commanding General Philippine Army after his term as Vice-Chief of Staff.
  11. ^ son of LGen. Salvador Mison of Philippine Army who served as Vice-Chief of Staff in 1986, they are the only father and son who took the same office.

References

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  1. ^ Viray-Mendoza, Vicky (September 27, 2022). "Tribute to Former Philippine President Fidel V Ramos – The Maritime Review". The Maritime Review. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Republic Act No. 11939". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az "Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Frialde, Mike (April 12, 2000). "Calimlim now No. 2 in Armed Forces". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
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