Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Flag of the Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Incumbent Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura, PAF since November 25, 2022-December 19, 2024[1]
Department of National Defense
Type	Military Leadership
Status	Active
Abbreviation	VCSAFP
Member of	AFP Board of Generals
Reports to	Secretary of National Defense (SND) Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP)
Residence	Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines
Seat	Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines
Nominator	AFP Board of Generals
Appointer	President of the Republic of the Philippines with Commission of Appointment approval
Term length	Mandatory Retirement Age at 57
Precursor	Vice-Chief of Staff of the Philippine Commonwealth Army
Formation	September 28, 1899
First holder	Major General Ambrosio Flores
Succession	The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Army
Unofficial names	Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Deputy	The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Vice-Chief of Staff sometimes appointed to lower post with the same rank.

The Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (VCSAFP) is the second highest military officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As principal assistant of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he or she assists in administrative matters and in their operational duties, as well as in policy conceptualization and implementation matters in the AFP, while Chief of Staff focus on military operations and the country's security. The Vice-Chief of Staff also assists the AFP Chief of Staff in their absence and presides the meeting on the AFP Chief of Staff's behalf. The Vice-Chief of Staff holds a rank of 3-star officer as Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral (O-9) and is appointed by the President of the Philippines who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

The 48th Vice-Chief of Staff was Lieutenant General Arthur M. Cordura, who assumed the post on November 22, 2022 until December 19, 2024.^[2]

The position of Vice-Chief of Staff can be traced prior the Philippine–American War in 1899 were in General Ambrosio Flores was selected as Assistant Chief of Operations under General Antonio Luna. He took command in acting capacity upon his death in June 1899 until General Aguinaldo took over the command of revolutionary army personally until the end of the war on March 23, 1901, upon the capture of Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela.

Under the Commonwealth Act No. 1 or also known as National Defense Act of 1935 the position again was created to assist the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Which led to the creation of three major services in the following years Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marine Corps. While there were officers from the Philippine Constabulary that became Vice-Chief of Staff, the service has been dissolved and transition to civilian law enforcement service Philippine National Police (PNP). In 1982 Major General Fidel V. Ramos was appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff and concurrent Chief of the Philippine Constabulary and Director General of the Integrated National Police. He was later appointed Chief of Staff after EDSA revolution.^[3]

On June 19, 2020, under the DND Order no. 174, the title of Vice-Chief of Staff was renamed as the vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs, while the Chief of Staff as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and The Deputy Chief of Staff as Chief of the Joint Staff. Although the usage of these titles were deferred.

Under the AFP Hierarchy, the Vice-Chief of Staff holds a rank of 3-star general officer rank, either Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral. The Vice-Chief of Staff of the AFP is nominated by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the AFP Board of Generals and will also be required to be subject to hearings under the Commission on Appointments for them to be formally approved in their positions. The Vice-Chief of Staff has no fixed term and is subject to mandatory retirement upon reaching the age of 57 under the Republic Act No. 11939 and is also eligible to be appointed as the AFP Chief of Staff, unless appointed by the president.^[4]

This is the list of officers who were appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff or Acting Capacity. In all 9 came from Philippine Constabulary before it was deactivated, 29 from the Philippine Army, 2 from Philippine Marine Corps, 6 from the Philippine Air Force, and 6 from the Philippine Navy.

No.	Portrait	Vice-Chief of Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Service Branch	Ref.
1		Flores, AmbrosioBrigadier General Ambrosio Flores (March 20, 1843–June 12, 1912) Assistant Chief of War Operations	June 6, 1898	January 4, 1900	1 year, 4 days	Philippine Revolutionary Army	[5]
2		Valdes, BasilioBrigadier General Basilio Valdes	January 11, 1935	December 28, 1938	124 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
3		Lim, VicenteBrigadier General Vicente Lim (1892–1945) [a]	January 11, 1938	May 4, 1942	3 years, 327 days	Philippine Army	[5]
4		Castañeda, MarianoBrigadier General Mariano Castañeda (December 20, 1892–September 8, 1970) Served as concurrent Provost Marshal and Chief of Constabulary	January 11, 1946	December 21, 1948	2 years, 345 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
5		Duque, CalixtoBrigadier General Calixto Duque	January 11, 1949	May 4, 1951	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
6		Vargas, JesusBrigadier General Jesus Vargas	January 11, 1951	May 4, 1953	3 years, 114 days	Philippine Army	[5]
7		Balao, EulogioBrigadier General Eulogio Balao [b]	January 1, 1954	December 31, 1956	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
8		Arellano, AlfonsoMajor General Alfonso Arellano	January 1, 1956	December 31, 1957	364 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
9		Cabal, ManuelMajor General Manuel Cabal	January 1, 1958	December 31, 1959	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
10		Cruz, PelagioMajor General Pelagio Cruz	January 1, 1959	May 4, 1961	2 years, 354 days	Philippine Air Force	[5]
11		Santos, AlfredoMajor General Alfredo Santos	January 11, 1961	May 4, 1962	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
12		De Veyra, AntonioMajor General Antonio De Veyra	May 4, 1962	December 31, 1964	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
14		Molina, PedroMajor General Pedro Molina	July 12, 1964	January 12, 1965	195 days	Philippine Air Force	[5]
12		Lapus, IsmaelMajor General Ismael Lapus	May 4, 1965	December 31, 1966	1 year, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
14		Osias, VictorMajor General Victor Osias	July 12, 1966	January 12, 1967	195 days	Philippine Air Force	[5]
15		Velasco, SegundoLieutenant General Segundo Velasco	August 16, 1967	December 31, 1967	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
16		Tobias, GaudencioMajor General Gaudencio Tobias	January 11, 1968	May 4, 1969	4 years, 114 days	Philippine Army	[5]
16		Espino, RomeoMajor General Romeo Espino	January 11, 1970	May 4, 1972	4 years, 114 days	Philippine Army	[5]
17		Ileto, RafaelLieutenant General Rafael Ileto [c] [d]	January 11, 1975	May 4, 1981	6 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
19		Ramos, FidelLieutenant General Fidel V. Ramos concurrent Chief of Constabulary and Director of Integrated National Police. He was Acting AFP Chief of Staff (1984-1985)	January 11, 1982	February 26, 1986	4 years, 56 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
20		Mison, SalvadorLieutenant General Salvador M. Mison	January 11, 1986	May 4, 1988	2 years, 114 days	Philippine Army	[5]
21		De Villa, RenatoLieutenant General Renato de Villa [e]	January 11, 1986	March 4, 1988	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Constabulary	[5]
22		Eduardo, ErmitaMajor General Eduardo Ermita	March 4, 1988	May 4, 1990	114 days	Philippine Army	[5]
23		Biazon, RodolfoLieutenant General Rodolfo Biazon [f]	January 11, 1990	May 4, 1991	1 year, 113 days	Philippine Marine Corps	[5]
24		Flores, GuillermoMajor General Guillermo Flores	March 4, 1990	May 4, 1992	2 years, 114 days	Philippine Army	[5]
25		Filler, AlbertoLieutenant General Alberto Filler [g]	January 11, 1993	May 4, 1994	3 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
26		Mariano, ClementeLieutenant General Clemente Mariano	January 11, 1996	May 4, 1997	1 year, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
27		Villareal, IsmaelLieutenant General Ismael Villareal	January 11, 1997	July 16, 1998	1 year, 186 days	Philippine Army	[5]
28		Fernandez, LuisitoVice Admiral Luisito Fernandez	February 04, 1998	January 15, 1999	227 days	Philippine Navy	[5]
-		Ma. Santos, EduardoVice Admiral Eduardo Maria Santos (Acting Capacity & concurrent Navy Flag Officer in Command)	January 1, 1999	April 16, 1999	105 days	Philippine Navy	[5]
29		Mayo, VictorLieutenant General Victor Mayo	August 11, 1999	April 12, 2000	252 days	Philippine Army	[5]
30		Calimlim, JoseLieutenant General Jose Calimlim	April 12, 2000	June 4, 2001	1 year, 22 days	Philippine Army	[5][6]
31		Camiling, GregorioLieutenant General Gregorio Camiling [h]	October 1, 2001	November 15, 2002	1 year, 45 days	Philippine Army	[5]
32		Garcia, RodolfoLieutenant General Rodolfo Garcia	January 11, 2004	May 4, 2005	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
33		Delos Reyes, AristonVice Admiral Ariston Delos Reyes (born February 16, 1950)	July 04, 2004	February 16, 2006	1 year, 227 days	Philippine Navy	[5]
34		Romero, AntonioLieutenant General Antonio Romero	April 30, 2006	May 07, 2008	2 years, 7 days	Philippine Army	[5]
35		Luna, CardozoLieutenant General Cardozo Luna [i]	January 11, 2008	May 4, 2009	1 year, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
36		Maclang, RodrigoLieutenant General Rodrigo Maclang	April 30, 2009	June 9, 2010	1 year, 40 days	Philippine Army	[5]
37		Ochoa, NestorLieutenant General Nestor Z. Ochoa Acting Chief of Staff (April 2010 - July 2010)	June 9, 2010	May 4, 2011	1 year, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
-		Catacutan, MarioRear Admiral Mario Catacutan Acting Vice-Chief & concurrent Deputy Chief of Staff	June 30, 2010	July 2, 2010	1 year, 0 days	Philippine Navy	[5]
38		Mapagu, ReynaldoLieutenant General Reynaldo Mapagu	June 17, 2011	October 12, 2012	1 year, 275 days	Philippine Army	[5]
39		Coballes, NoelLieutenant General Noel Coballes (born 1958)	October 19, 2012	January 22, 2013	95 days	Philippine Army	[5]
40		Luga, AlanLieutenant General Alan Luga	February 5, 2013	May 12, 2014	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
41		Catapang, GregorioLieutenant General Gregorio Catapang Jr.	February 14, 2014	July 18, 2014	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
42		Bonafos, JohnLieutenant General John S. Bonafos	January 11, 2015	October 16, 2015	2 years, 113 days	Philippine Army	[5]
43		Tanalgo, RomeoLieutenant General Romeo Tanalgo concurrent Commandant Philippine Marine Corps until 2016	October 16, 2015	March 10, 2016	202 days	Philippine Marine Corps	[5]
44		Miranda, GloriosoLieutenant General Glorioso Miranda (born October 8, 1961) Acting AFP Chief of Staff April 12, 2016 - June 30, 2016 [j]	March 10, 2016	January 12, 2017	310 days	Philippine Army	[5]
45		Mison, Salvador JrLieutenant General Salvador Melchor B. Mison Jr [k]	January 11, 2019	May 4, 2020	1 year, 114 days	Philippine Air Force	[5]
46		Collado, GaudencioVice Admiral Gaudencio Collado	June 20, 2019	November 21, 2020	1 year, 154 days	Philippine Navy	[5]
47		Gloria, EricksonLieutenant General Erickson Gloria	November 21, 2019	September 9, 2022	2 years, 292 days	Philippine Air Force	[5]
-		Reyes, Rommel AnthonyVice Admiral Rommel Anthony SD Reyes Acting Capacity	September 9, 2022	November 22, 2022	74 days	Philippine Navy	[5]
48		Cordura, ArthurLieutenant General Arthur Cordura	November 22, 2022	December 19, 2024[7]	2 years, 34 days	Philippine Air Force	[5]

• Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Philippine Army
• Philippine Air Force
• Philippine Navy
• Philippine Marine Corps

• AFP vice chief of staff, Navy chief get CA nod
• Presidential Decree No. 360
• [1]