• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) activated its Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) on May 28, where Negrense Brig. Gen. Eliglen Villaflor was designated as its acting commander.
The transition to JSOC from the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) was described by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a significant organizational restructuring aimed at enhancing the military’s operational capabilities and ensuring a more unified and agile defense posture.
Prior to his present position, Villaflor, of Bago City, Negros Occidental, also led the JSOG and served as acting commander of the Special Forces Regiment, among other key positions in the AFP.
He had been assigned in Negros Occidental, as a Special Forces company commander.
During simultaneous activities held at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, assisted by AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., also presided over the deactivation of the AFP Special Operations Command (SOCOM) , and the reactivation of the Philippine Army‘s Special Operations Command.
The move restores operational control of the Army’s elite units under SOCOM, while the JSOC institutionalizes jointness – ensuring the AFP remains capable across all domains: land, sea, air, cyber, and space, a press statement from the AFP said.
Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Napuli was designated as acting commander of the SOCOM, Philippine Army.
Emphasizing the importance of the shift, Brawner said “This transformation is operationally driven, doctrinally sound, and aligned with our vision of a credible and unified armed forces. It empowers us not just to face today’s challenges, but to stay ahead of tomorrow’s possibilities.”
The reorganization underscores the AFP’s commitment to continuous improvement and its dedication to safeguarding national security through a more integrated and effective special operations framework, he added.
Specialized units under JSOC, with rapid response capabilities, are used by the AFP in high risk and strategic operations to confront and neutralize various threats.*
