AFP General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command
The General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command, informally called GHQ-AFP, is one of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' support units tasked in base management of Camp Aguinaldo and provides headquarters support services to subordinate units of the AFP.
History
The AFP GHQ & HSC was born out of the General Services Battalion of the Philippine Constabulary that was originally stationed at the Old Constabulary Barracks in Tondo, Manila. It then moved to its new home at Camp Murphy on 11 January 1935. Major Mariano N Castañeda PC was designated as its commanding officer.
Towards the end of World War II in 1946, the unit was redesignated and renamed as Headquarters and Service Battalion. The unit was then tasked with Camp Administration and Security.
By 15 October 1948, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ordered the redesignation of the unit as Headquarters Service Group, GHQ, AFP tasked with the same work as it was previously doing.
With the unit-wide restruction of the AFP, post EDSA I, the unit was then upgraded to a provisional unit and renamed General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command, AFP.
On 15 May 1987, the provisional status of the unit was lifted and the GHQ-HSC became the unofficial fourth branch of service of the Philippine Military, taking responsibility over Base Administration & Security, and command of the AFP Technical Service Units.
At present, the GHQ-HSC serves as the Camp Administrator of Camp Aguinaldo and provides communication services, command & control services, and security for the higher echelons of the Philippine Military.
Organization
- Headquarters & Headquarters Support Battalion
- General Headquarters Training Center
- General Headquarters Security & Escort Battalion
- General Headquarters Military Police Battalion
- Armed Forces of the Philippines Theater and Museum
Further reading
- Official Page of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Pobre, Cesar P. (2006). History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People. New Day Publishers.ISBN 9711010410.