THE Armed Forces yesterday deactivated its Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as part of a move to enhance the military’s special operational capabilities.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr led the deactivation of the AFP SOCOM during rites at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
During the ceremony, the Army’s SOCOM and the AFP Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) were also activated.
Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Napuli was designated acting commander of the Army SOCOM. He commanded the now-disbanded AFP SOCOM from May 7.
The AFP SOCOM was established seven years ago.
Brig. Gen. Eliglen Villaflor, former commander of AFP’s SOCOM’s Joint Special Operations Group, has been designated acting AFP JSOC commander.
“This transformation is operationally driven, doctrinally sound, and aligned with our vision of a credible and unified armed forces,” Brawner said in a statement.
“It empowers us not just to face today’s challenges, but to stay ahead of tomorrow’s possibilities,” he added.
AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad described the transition as “significant organizational restructuring aimed at enhancing the military’s operational capabilities and ensuring a more unified and agile defense posture.”
“The move restores operational control of the Army’s elite units under SOCOM, PA (Philippine Army), while JSOC, AFP institutionalizes jointness – ensuring the AFP remains capable across all domains: land, sea, air, cyber, and space,” he said.
Trinidad said the move underscores the military’s commitment to “continuous improvement and its dedication to safeguarding national security through a more integrated and effective special operations framework.”
The AFP SOCOM was activated in April 2018 or a year after the terrorist Maute Group attacked Marawi City, leading to a five-month-long fighting that resulted in the death of about 1,000 terrorists, 168 soldiers and policemen, and 47 civilians.
Then-AFP chief Gen. Leonardo Guerrero said he expected all “gaps and challenges” in joint special operations will be addressed by the activation of the AFP SOCOM.
