Chief of the Army (Philippines)

The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) is the overall commander and highest ranking officer commissioned to serve in the Philippine Army. The position concurrently holds the three-star rank of lieutenant general.

The commanding general is appointed by the president of the Philippines and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. In the military chain of command, the CGPA directly reports to the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Powers and responsibilities

The Commanding General serves as the overall head of the Philippine Army, where he/she has full operational control and command of the army. Unlike its US-based counterpart, the chief of staff of the U.S. Army, the CGPA has direct command oversight of the army's activities, army operations, and administrative functions to all army units, down from the army's enlisted personnel, and up to the army's different commands and divisions under its branch. The CGPA directly reports all operations and functions to the chief of staff of the Armed Forces and serves as the primary advisor for the secretary of national defense in army related matters, which will also be transmitted to the president of the Philippines, who serves as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The CGPA is also responsible for the army's resource management and strategic planning thrusts aimed at ensuring that the army can respond in addressing the command's needs, from programs such as the Army's modernization programs, doctrine development, research & development-related objectives, and addressing the professional and welfare programs of the command. The CGPA is also in managing humanitarian assistance operations in times of calamities and also holds international collaboration efforts to other armies in the region, which fosters both inter-army relations and potential partnerships in future military exercises.

Organization and term limit

The CGPA is directly assisted by two deputies, namely the Vice-Commander of the Philippine Army, who serves as the CGPA's immediate assistant in implementing the army's thrusts and operations, and the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army. The Vice-Commander also has the power to assist the CGPA in their absence, while the Chief of Staff serves as the overall head of the Army's organizational staff, ensuring that the Army's thrusts is properly implemented and is responsible in managing the Army's administrative commands, general staff commands, and offices.

The CGPA is directly appointed by the President of the Philippines, who also has the power to end the fixed term of the CGPA at their pleasure, and needs the consent and approval of the Commission on Appointments for briefing and confirmation of their post. The CGPA's fixed-term length lasts two years, under the provisions of Republic Act No. 11939, and can only be extended in times of war and national emergencies with the approval of Congress.

Officeholders

Captain General of the Revolutionary Army

Commanding General of the Republican Army

Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Commanding General of the Philippine Army

See also

• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Philippine Army
• Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force
• Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine Navy
• Chief of Constabulary

External links