Rappler's latest stories on armed forces of the philippines
AFP renames key positions, military chief gets additional designation
With these changes, the defense department wants 'to instill the culture of jointness within the AFP and strictly implement the ‘force provider-force employer’ concept between the major services and the unified commands'
[OPINION] Shutting the revolving door: Let the chiefs serve their tenure
'Appointing the service chiefs with a fixed three-year term is direly needed to ensure that their programs and policies could be implemented, as well as recalibrated should the need arise...'
PH Navy christens first-ever brand new frigate, BRP Jose Rizal
Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo hails the new warship as 'the great milestone and accomplishment of the defense sector in decades'
Reservists Sara Duterte, Robin Padilla join PH Army advisory board
The board also includes other government officials such as Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, as well as actor and Army reservist Matteo Guidicelli
Slain Jolo soldier’s kin hopes ‘justice will prevail’ as AFP, PNP launch own inquiry
The military and police will check for 'what went wrong' when cops gunned down 4 soldiers on an intelligence mission in Jolo
Suspects in slay of soldier, 3 others surrender in Basilan
The suspects – all barangay peacekeepers – surrender to the 4th Special Forces Battalion through the assistance of a village chief
'Country before anger': Duterte tries to calm down soldiers after Jolo shooting
Promising justice for the slain officers, President Rodrigo Duterte tells soldiers not to lose sight of the 'real enemy' – communists and terrorists
Kalinga town 'welcomes home' hero who was among soldiers slain in Sulu
Major Marvin Indammog, the commanding officer of the Army soldiers killed by policemen in Jolo, Sulu, is honored as a 'full-blooded Igorot warrior'
WATCH: The killing of 4 soldiers in Sulu – what happened before and after
EXCLUSIVE: CCTV clips obtained by Rappler show Army soldiers taking over the crime scene after their intelligence agents died – while policemen stood by
Army admits lapses: Soldiers rushed to Sulu crime scene to check on their dead
The Army says the soldiers wanted to check if the victims were still alive and to secure intelligence equipment
Robredo visits wakes of soldiers slain in Sulu: 'They had such promising futures'
'All of them are young men who died in the service of the country. It was heartbreaking to hear their stories from their respective families,' says Vice President Leni Robredo
Jolo police chief sacked as probe over cops who killed soldiers begins
The relief further paves the way for an impartial investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation
Former AFP chief posts footage of Sulu crime scene, slams PNP 'violations'
(3rd UPDATE) Now head of the National Irrigation Administration, retired general Ricardo Visaya tells Camp Crame to 'stop covering up [for] their abusive men'
AFP backs Army chief’s 'murder, rubout' claim on soldiers' deaths
The Armed Forces of the Philippines says Army chief Gilbert Gapay has basis for his claim on what happened in Sulu, but defers to the probe of the National Bureau of Investigation
‘Extremely saddened’ Duterte wants to talk to 9 cops in Jolo ‘misencounter’
'Lungkot na lungkot siya. Ang ginamit nga niyang salita ay siya ay ‘nanlambot, extremely sad,’ says Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
‘It was murder’: Army bares details of Jolo police ‘rubout’ of 4 soldiers
The soldiers’ unarmed commander raised his hands while his deputy was working on his laptop when police shot them dead in broad daylight, says the Army
Army enraged; police shot 4 intel soldiers in Sulu without gunfight
The Philippine Army says there was 'no provocation' on the part of the soldiers to 'warrant such carnage'
PNP, AFP agree to let NBI lead Sulu probe
Police and military officials seek 'impartiality' in the investigation into the encounter between police and soldiers that led to the death of 4 military intelligence officers
Año orders detention of Sulu cops who gunned down 4 soldiers
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año joins the Armed Forces in urging the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an impartial probe into the incident
Policemen gun down 4 AFP soldiers in Sulu
(3rd UPDATE) The dead all belonged to Army intelligence. The Armed Forces of the Philippines calls on the National Bureau of Investigation to step in to conduct an impartial investigation.
[ANALYSIS] COVID-19 and civil-military relations in the PH: Getting the balance right
'While it is reasonable to say that the role of the AFP in the government’s COVID-19 response has been substantial, there are two risks that could affect civil-military relations during this pandemic period'
28 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed for first half of 2020 – AFP
29 Abu Sayyaf militants have surrendered during the same period
Military vows more offensives as Duterte insists NPA top terror threat in PH
'We will strike while the iron is hot,' says the Armed Forces of the Philippines after Duterte steps up his rhetoric against communist rebels
Soldier killed, 9 others wounded in 'fierce firefight' with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
Bloodstains on the terror group's escape path indicate an 'undetermined number' of casualties among its members, says the military in Western Mindanao
LOOK: Stranded travelers at the PH Army Gym
The Philippine Army says it has sheltered more than 400 stranded travelers since June 13
PH Army opens mental health center for soldiers
Nearly two months since the killing of war-traumatized soldier Winston Ragos, the Philippine Army sets up a mental health and resilience program for its troops
2 soldiers killed, 2 wounded in ambush in Occidental Mindoro
Unidentified attackers waylay military personnel on an SUV and run away with cash meant for CAFGUs' subsistence allowances, says the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command
PH Navy's brand new frigate docks in Subic after 2-week quarantine
A christening and commissioning ceremony for the BRP Jose Rizal originally set for June 19 is postponed 'due to unavoidable circumstances,' says the Navy
More plans to upgrade Pag-asa Island as Lorenzana unveils beaching ramp
The ramp allows for the delivery of large equipment and supplies in the West Philippine Sea. A new sheltered harbor will also be inaugurated on Friday, June 12.
PH Army: Computer programmer recruitment 'not for malicious purposes'
Some netizens wonder whether the Philippine Army's recruitment of information technology practitioners may have had something to do with the proliferation of fake accounts on Facebook
4 soldiers killed in clash with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
(UPDATED) Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Major Arvin John Encinas says 2 Abu Sayyaf members were killed during the encounter
Military ‘pleased’ with Congress passage of anti-terror bill
The bill does not seem to add any new power to the armed forces, says military spokesperson Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo
LOOK: New harbor on Pag-asa Island
The harbor, along with other new structures on the island, will make both civilian and military visits easier – a small but significant step forward in establishing Filipino presence in the West Philippine Sea
Air Force pilot Erickson Gloria is new military commander guarding West PH Sea
The Armed Forces of the Philippines announces changes in key positions as Lieutenant General Erickson Gloria takes over the Western Command based in Palawan
LOOK: PH Navy's 1st missile-ready warship arrives in Subic
BRP Jose Rizal is the most powerful and lethal of the Navy's warships
Military to help give out cash subsidy in remote, critical areas
The government will no longer entrust the cash aid's second installment to local governments, following reports of anomalies in the distribution
Sakay.ph now has GPS tracking for some public transport in Pasig
Sakay.ph is working with the Pasig City government to allow users to track buses and shuttles plying specific routes as they make their way through the city
4 NPA leaders, 11 fighters killed in Northern Mindanao
The Armed Forces of the Philippines says 186 communist rebels have been killed since January 2020
PH Navy's brand new frigate to arrive May 23
The BRP Jose Rizal will be the most powerful, first ever missile-capable warship in the Philippine Fleet
Military and police kill 17 NPA rebels in weeklong attacks
As the country battles a pandemic, 19 guerrillas surrender, and two are arrested in military and police operations against the New People’s Army from May 4 to 11
Military told to behave properly on social media
Although a number of military members posted their opinions about ABS-CBN going off the air, the AFP says the directive was prompted by social media posts and comments ‘from the past’
LOOK: PH Navy ships in India to pick up face masks, repatriate Filipino tourists
The naval vessels will bring home some 200,000 face masks donated by a Filipino businessman
Soldiers to help run 'mega swabbing center' in Taguig
Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will provide non-medical support to the national government's COVID-19 testing center at Enderun Colleges in Bonifacio Global City
Decapitated boatman found on Tawi-Tawi beach
Authorities suspect the dead man was Ruihan Yu, who tried to row across the Pacific Ocean by himself, and was last spotted in distress on November 27, 2019, near the Marshall Islands
CPP-NPA ends ceasefire, resumes offensives vs government forces
(UPDATED) The truce failed to stop clashes between government troops and communist rebels, both sides admit
Who's afraid of martial law?
We should expect President Duterte to keep on seeing red throughout this pandemic and we should stay vigilant in making sure he’s not going to arm-twist us into accepting that the coronavirus is armed
LOOK: Army reservist gives pedestrian a face mask in Mandaluyong City
A man is spotted walking the streets without a face mask, so a Philippine Army reservist gives him a warning – and a face mask. That's how to do it, netizens say.
'Offensive,' Lorenzana says about China's laser gun aimed at PH Navy ship
'Why does the Chinese Navy need to aim their target acquisition radars at our airplanes or ships?' asks Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
Lorenzana, AFP defend military chief's 'out of place' letter to Chinese envoy
Although the military chief's letter to the Chinese envoy may have been 'out of place,' Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says he sees nothing wrong with it
AFP chief asked Chinese envoy help to buy COVID-19 'medicine,' then recalls letter
A leaked letter shows AFP chief General Felimon Santos Jr requesting Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian’s help in obtaining Carrimycin tablets, which he said he used when he was sick with COVID-19
