Highlights of our national defense

Media

Part of Philippine Armed Forces Journal

Title
Highlights of our national defense
Language
English
Source
Philippine Armed Forces Journal Volume 9 (No. 2) December 1955
Year
1955
Rights
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Fulltext
Highlights of o~r National Defense ou~on~0a::;t:;e~t~93~~::~::d among its Declaration of Principles the following: "The defense of the state is a prime dut7 of government, and in the fulfillment of this duty, all <:itizens may be required by law to render personal military or ci· vii service." Prior to 1935, our national leaders had been lukewarm to the idea of establishing a Filipino military force and of a system of military training for the Filipinos, largely on the belief that the defense of the country was an exclusive affair of the United States Government. However, the fear of repercussions of Japan's war of aggression launched against China in 1930 and the assurance that independence was forthcoming, caused the change of attitude of the .Filipino leaders. The approval of Commonwealth Act No. 1, popularly known as the National Defense Act, proved to be the stepping stone to the final set-up or an organization known today as the Armed Forces of the Philippines. ' The various signifi<:ant measures adopted by our Government toward the establishment and stability o! the Armed Forces were as follows: 21 DeeemOOr 1935 - Approval o! Commonwealth Act No. 1, otherwise known as the National Defense Act. This established the legal basis for the organizi(.' tion of a Philippine Army, 11 January 1936 - Headquarters Philippine Army and the component or the Regular Force were organized under authority of Executive Order No. 11, is· sued by President Quezon on this date. 1 April 1936 - The first day of registration of all 20-year-old Filipino males who would undergo military training, pursuant to provisions of the National Defense Act. 26 October 1936 - President Quezon approved Commonwealth Act No. 88 creating the State Poii<:o Force which nationalized 87 all pohcc forces in the country into a seperate organization. Theteartcr thP Constabulary was relieved of its police powers and remained an integral part of the Philippine Army. 23 June 1938 - Approval of Commonwealth Act No. 343, ~h separated the Philippine Constabulary from the Philippine Army. The act restored to the Philippine Constabulary its preCommonwealth functions as a national police body. 14 September 1938 - Approval o( Commonwealth Act No. 408 cs tablishing "a eystem of military justice for persons subject to military law." The Articles of War resulted from this Act. 31 May 1939 - Approval of Commonwealth Act No. 430 creating the Department of National Defense for supervision "of nntional defense of the country" and "executive supervision" of such offices placed under it by the President. 88 31 October 1939 - Promulgation of Executive Order No. 230 by President Quezon, placing the Philippine Army under the Department of National Defense. Honorable Tcofilo Sison, until then Secretary of the Interior, became the first Secretary of National Defense. 27 May 1941 - The President uf the United States proclaimed "that an unlimited national emergency confronts this country, which requires that its military, neva!, air and civilian defense be put on the basis of readiness to repel any and all acts of aggression directed toward any part of the western hemisphere." 26 July 1941 - Undl!r pertinent provisions of the TydingsMcDuffie Law, President Roosevelt called into the United State! service "all the organized military forces of the Government of the Philippines" and ordered that they be merged with \he U. S. Army. Recalled to active duty, 8oloon, defended by Fii-Am•oc<rn lorce1, fell on 9 April 1942 MacA rt.hur was designated commanding general of the newly-activated United States Army Forces in the Far East, popularly known as USAFFE. 3 August 1941 - The personnel of ten infantry regiments, one per division, reported to their respective district mobilization centers. 15 August 1941 - The Philippine Army Air Corps was inducted into the USAFFE and earned the distinct honor of being the first component of the Philippine Army to be accepted for service with the U.S. Army. 28 August 1941 - Officers and key men of the other divisional units of the ten divisions were activated. .;--1 September 1911 - The ten infantry regiments as well :\5 a.\1 the officers and key men activated on 28 August inducted into the USAFFE. 17 December 1941 - The 51st Provisional Brigade, which later become the 2nd Regular Division, inducted into the USAFFE. 19 December 1941 - The 1st Regular Division inducted into the USAFFE. 9 April 1942 - Fall or Bata6 May 1942 - Fall or Corrcgido' 17 May 1942 - End of the Philippine Defense Campaign. 17 October 1944 - Start of the Ph1hppme Liberatu:tu Campaign. be m the active service of the 23 October 1944 - Headquar, Philippine Army." Wrs Philippine A1·my was official- 1 November 194-:1 - The 92nd ly reconstituted at Tacloban, Ley- Infantry Division, PA, was activte, initially as the Philippine Ar- ated, ul1lizing as its nucleus Col. my Section of USAFFE head RUJlerto Kangit.'On's guerrilla outquarters. General Valdes who fit - the Leyte Area Command. held th(! port/~iio of National De- This divis1on was immediately fensc in the exiled Commonwealth Government in Washington, D.C., resumed his old post as Chief of Staff. 28 October 1944 - President Sergio Osmeiia issued Executive Order No. 21, reactivating the Philippine Army. This Executive Order further authorh:ed that "all plact•d under the operational control of G('n. Walter Krue!!"Cr's Sixth U.S. Army, and had played a \'ita! role in the liberation of the whole island of Leytc. 12 November 1944 - The 1st Replacement Battalion was activated at Tacloban, Leyte. This battalion was charged with the repersons of any nationality or ci- covery and processing of aurvivtizenship who are actively serving ing Philippine Army personnel of in recognized milita1-y forces of the USAFFF., and to Sl!PPIY tho the Philippines arc considered to personnel requirements of units Clo"'c Philoppin• D•len•e Compoi9n ended onlr on 17 Moy 19~2 being activated. 15 November 1944 - The lst Lcyte Company, Philippine Constabulary, was activated and giv· en the mission of maintaining peace and order in the liberated areas. 4 December 1944 - The 2nd Lcyte Company, Philippine Constabulary, was activated. 9 January 1945 - American liberation. forces landed on the beaches or Lingayen Gulf. 25 January 1945 - 2nd Replacement Battalion was activated at Dagupan, Pangasinan, and was given similar mission as its counterpart in Lcyte. ' February 1945 - Manila was reeapturcd. 27 February 1945 - The capi~1 of the Commonwealth of the Philippines was reestablished in Manila. Gen. MacArthur, on behalf of the U.S. Government, turned over to President Sergio Osmciia the full powers and T~'­ sponsibilities of the Cornm'O'nwealth under the Constitution. The USAFFE Headquarters, including the Philippine Army Section, was reestablished in the City. 29 March 1945 - Headquarters Philippine Army was established at the National University, Main Bldg., in Sampaloc, Manila. 1 April 1945 - Central General Staff was reorganized and Headquarters P A ceased to be a mere section of the USAFFE headquarters. It attained a status siwilar to that of 1941 when the PA ,.,aa inducted into the USAFFE. Thereafter, Headquarters Philip11ine Army assumed the re-:n;si!i~~y a~:ig~~~1i;a~!:g 0!t~ ~:r~ sonnel, with the concurrence of USAFFE headquarters. Units were activated as fast as officers and men were recovered and processed in the replacement battalions and camp complements. This step was taken to insure a steady supply of manpower needed as replacements in the combat nreas and in the projected invasion of Japan. lO April 1945 - HPA transferred to the Legarda Elementary School Bldg., in Sampaloc, Manilo. 7 June 1945 - Executive Order No. 51 was issued, authorizing the establishment of a Military Police Command. 21 .Tune 1945- Gen. Orders No. 86, of IIPA, activated the Military Police Command which was placed under the joint supervision of the United States Army and the Philippine Army. It was charged with the maintenance of peace and order. the enforcement of Military orders and regulations, and in assisting the civil government in enforeing the civil laws except in the active combat areas and at exempted reservations. 2 September 1945 - Philipp1he liberation campaign terminated. 24 November 1945 - HPA transferred to the Ang Tibay Shoe Factory Bldg., at Grace Park, Caloocan, Rizal. 3 Junfl 1946 - The Reserve Officers' Service School, which later on became variously designated as the Army Ground Foree School, the Philippine Ground Force School, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service School, and the Philippine Army Service School, was reactivated. 28 June 1946 - The Philippine Military Academy, which had been converted into an institution of collegiate level under a provision of the National Defense Act, effective 1986, was reestablished. 30 June 1946 - Control of the Philippine Army turned ove1' t.o the Philippine Government. 4 July 1946 - Inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines. Following this, the Headquarten Army of the Philippines started a t1'aining program fo1' its per93 sonne\ as tl?ia was deemed imperative in o1'der to bring back the old p1'estigc of the A1'my which had suffered tremendous setbacks in the war years. 6 July 1946 - Headquarters of the ROTC was rl:Aetivated. 6 August 1946 - HAP tranafcrred to Camp Murphy, Quezon City. 2 January 1947 - The Military Training Command was activated, pursuant to General Ordera No. 12 of HAP. This Command was charged with the supervision of trainee instructions, the ROTC, and the service schools. 6 February 1947 - The Reserve Officers' Service School resume instructions. 7 April 1947 - PMA began its first pos~war class. 3 July 1947 - The PA Air Corps designated as Philippine Air Force. 7 September 1937 - ROTC instructions were resumed initially in seventeen colleges and universities throughout the country. 4 October 1947 - Promulgation of Executive Order No. 94 by President Roxas in line with the 'Government Reorganization Plan'. Under this Executive Order the Army was drastically revamped. New nomenclatures were adopted and major commands were formed as integral parts of the Army. 24 October 1947 - Issuance by HAP of GO No. 228 to implerr.crnt Executive Order No. 94. Under this GO, the designation Armv of the Philippines was changed to Armed Forces of the Philip~u. lleadqm.J.Ttcr.~ Army of tile Philippines was changed to llcadquar- tc""'- N11tional Defense Forces, while the il!ilita.ry Troining Command and the Off-Shore Patrol became the Philippine Ground Force and lhe Philippine Naval Patrol, respectively. The designation and funclions of the members of the Central General Stnrt and the Special Staff remained as in the previous years, although it was now called as National /Jcfcnst Generrtl Staff and N11tional Defense Special Staff, respect1vc ly. 31 December 1947- Issuance by HNDF of GO No. 269 activating the Philippine Constabulary and giving it the same status it enjoyed during the Commonwealth ~cgiJu..-. The MPC was inactivated to form the nucleus of the. l'C. 1 January 1948 - A total 01 12,000 officers and men were transferred from the AFP to the Philippine Constabulary.. In addition, around 8,200 officers and men of the AFP were attached to the PC to enable the latter to carry out its prime mission of t·estoring peace and order, espe emily in the dissident-infested repons. 5 May 1948 - Issuance by HNDF of GO No. 164 which inactivated the ten Military Districts and in their places four Military Areas were activated. The Military Areas have since then taken over the functions devolved in the mi litary districL~. 30 1\[nrch 1950 - Pr(·-<id('nt Quirino, upon recommcndatzon of lhC! National Defense Staff, is· sued Executive Order No. 308, mez·gin~ the Philippine Constabulary with the Armed Forces, as a major command. In addition, the Philippine Service Command was activated to take charge of th(> logistical needs of the Armed Forces, becoming the fifth major command of the AFP. The otl1er major commands were the Philippine Air Force, and the Philippine Naval Patrol. 12 June 1950 - Approval by President Quirino of RA No. >193, reserving the right to use military titles of ranks, militat·y uniform, insignia and such other accoutt·ements, exclusively to personnel of the A FP. 15 September 1950 - 10th BCT, PEFTOK, sailed for Korea, as contribution of the Philip,.:ne Government to thr United Nati,ms forces to combat the North Korean aggression into the South l(orean territory. 23 December 1950 - Promulgation of Executive Order No. 3!'19 by President Quirino, by which the Headquarters Armed Forces of the Philippines became known as General lfeadqnarters, Armed Forcen of the Philippines, while General lfeadqzwrtcrs, Philippine Constnbulary became known as l/r(ldquarter.s, Philip11ine Con.-·lflbulary which was the same nomenclature it had in the prewar years. The major commands were also abolished and in thezr / loll botch o/ th• 2nd BCT telutn&d hom koteo on 26 Mor !955 atead wero activated four major se,::,;:ices, namely: the Philippint~ Army, the Philippine ConsWbula~ "'V• the Philippine Navv, which was the new designation of the Philippine Navat Pat,.ol, and the Philippine Ai,. Force. The functions of the PGF insofar as supervision over the trainee instruction, the ROTC and the serviC<' schools arc concerned, have been taken over by the Philippine Army TTaining Command. G September 1951 - 20th BCT, PEFTOK, took over from the lOth BCT of its assignment in Korea. 10 June 1952 - 19th BCT, I'EFTOK took over from the 20th BCT of its •ssignment in Korea. 3 April 1953 - 14th BCT, " PEFTOK took over from the 19th BCT of its assignment in Korea. 17 March 1954 - Approval by President Magsaysay of a new Coat of Arms and officers' rank insignia for use of the Armed Fol"· ces of the Philippines. 2 Apl"il 1954 - 2nd BCT, PEFTOK took over from the 14th BCT of its assignment in Korea. 26 May 1955 - Last elements of the 2nd BCT, PEFTOK re-turned to the Philippines. 1 September 1955 - The'· use of the new AFP Coat of Arms nnd officers' rank insignia effectoo. 21 December 1955 - Twentieth annh·ersary of the founding of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.