The Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit, variously called Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and commonly referred to by its acronymCAFGU (pronounced "kahf-goo") is an irregularauxiliary force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with total strength of 61,200 personnel as of 2020.[citation needed]
The CAFGU was created on July 25, 1987, when PresidentCorazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 264 entitled "Providing for the Citizen Armed Force".[1] The creation of the unit was based on the "clear, consolidate, hold and develop" strategy adopted by then-Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos in dealing with insurgent-infiltrated villages.[2]
CAFGU units are components of the AFP Ready Reserve detailed to Military Auxiliary Service. Article X, Sec. 61, sub-paragraph 2 of Republic Act 7077[3] describes this manner of service as follows:
Military auxiliary service entails services rendered in meeting local insurgency threat. Reservists serving under this category will be organized into Ready Reserve units. They must be issued and allowed to carry firearms: Provided, That these reservists will be utilized only for the defense of their respective localities and will not be employed outside their localities. Elected/appointed local government officials are expected to perform their duties and responsibilities in their respective peace and order council levels or similar organizations efficiently and effectively to enhance a total integrated system approach against threats to national security. The Secretary of National Defense shall prescribe the rules and regulations to implement this section in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.
OrganizationEdit
CAFGU units are administered by, and under the operational control of, regular units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Philippine Army infantry battalions assigned to this function are also referred to as "Cadre Battalions". Deactivation of CAFGU units assigned to these battalions result in the return of their status as regular infantry battalions.
The CAFGU units are tasked to prevent the re-infiltration of insurgents into communities that have already been cleared of their influence by combat operations conducted by regular units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The CAFGU units are issued small arms; typically M1 Garand, M-14, or M-16 rifles, and receive a monthly stipend of Php 4,500.00 (about US$92.43).
CriticismEdit
In 1993, the Philippine government considered deactivating the CAFGU units due to allegations of human rights abuses; 60 CAFGU units comprising 10,000 troops were disbanded. However, in 1996, the government halted its program to completely disband the CAFGU units. As of 2007, an estimated 60,000 CAFGU troopers are active in the country, taking part in military operations alongside regular soldiers of the AFP.[4]
The Commission on Human Rights' records show that as of 2000, 853 human rights abuse cases have been filed against 1,070 CAFGU members.[5]
Philippine Army History, The Philippine Army Museum.
The Philippine Army Public Affairs Office, The Philippine Army: First 100 Years, 1997, OTAPA.
The Special Forces School, Philippine Army Special Forces Operations Manual PAM 3-071, 2008, SFR(A).
Pobre, Cesar P. (2006). History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People. New Day Publishers.ISBN9711010410.
ReferencesEdit
^. Archived from the original on 2009-03-14. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
^Ilagan, Aris R. (2008-08-21). "Over 1,000 shotguns sent to Mindanao for civilian volunteers". Manila Bulletin Online. Retrieved 2008-12-27.[dead link]
^"ADROTH Project: Republic Act 7077, Article X - Utilization of the Reserve Force". Retrieved 2009-04-10.
^Reyes, Danilo. . Archived from the original on 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
^"On the Revival of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-12-27.
October 19, 2023
citizen, armed, force, geographical, unit, variously, called, citizens, armed, forces, geographical, unit, civilian, armed, forces, geographical, unit, commonly, referred, acronym, cafgu, pronounced, kahf, irregular, auxiliary, force, armed, forces, philippine. The Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit variously called Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit and commonly referred to by its acronym CAFGU pronounced kahf goo is an irregular auxiliary force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with total strength of 61 200 personnel as of 2020 citation needed Contents 1 Creation 2 Organization 3 Criticism 4 See also 5 Further reading 6 ReferencesCreation EditThe CAFGU was created on July 25 1987 when President Corazon C Aquino signed Executive Order No 264 entitled Providing for the Citizen Armed Force 1 The creation of the unit was based on the clear consolidate hold and develop strategy adopted by then Defense Secretary Fidel V Ramos in dealing with insurgent infiltrated villages 2 CAFGU units are components of the AFP Ready Reserve detailed to Military Auxiliary Service Article X Sec 61 sub paragraph 2 of Republic Act 7077 3 describes this manner of service as follows Military auxiliary service entails services rendered in meeting local insurgency threat Reservists serving under this category will be organized into Ready Reserve units They must be issued and allowed to carry firearms Provided That these reservists will be utilized only for the defense of their respective localities and will not be employed outside their localities Elected appointed local government officials are expected to perform their duties and responsibilities in their respective peace and order council levels or similar organizations efficiently and effectively to enhance a total integrated system approach against threats to national security The Secretary of National Defense shall prescribe the rules and regulations to implement this section in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Organization EditCAFGU units are administered by and under the operational control of regular units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine Army infantry battalions assigned to this function are also referred to as Cadre Battalions Deactivation of CAFGU units assigned to these battalions result in the return of their status as regular infantry battalions The CAFGU units are tasked to prevent the re infiltration of insurgents into communities that have already been cleared of their influence by combat operations conducted by regular units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines The CAFGU units are issued small arms typically M1 Garand M 14 or M 16 rifles and receive a monthly stipend of Php 4 500 00 about US 92 43 Criticism EditIn 1993 the Philippine government considered deactivating the CAFGU units due to allegations of human rights abuses 60 CAFGU units comprising 10 000 troops were disbanded However in 1996 the government halted its program to completely disband the CAFGU units As of 2007 an estimated 60 000 CAFGU troopers are active in the country taking part in military operations alongside regular soldiers of the AFP 4 The Commission on Human Rights records show that as of 2000 853 human rights abuse cases have been filed against 1 070 CAFGU members 5 See also EditIntegrated Civilian Home Defense Forces Civilian Irregular Defense Group Auxiliary policeFurther reading EditPhilippine Army History The Philippine Army Museum The Philippine Army Public Affairs Office The Philippine Army First 100 Years 1997 OTAPA The Special Forces School Philippine Army Special Forces Operations Manual PAM 3 071 2008 SFR A Pobre Cesar P 2006 History of the Armed Forces of the Filipino People New Day Publishers ISBN 9711010410 References Edit Executive Order No 264 Archived from the original on 2009 03 14 Retrieved 2008 12 27 Ilagan Aris R 2008 08 21 Over 1 000 shotguns sent to Mindanao for civilian volunteers Manila Bulletin Online Retrieved 2008 12 27 dead link ADROTH Project Republic Act 7077 Article X Utilization of the Reserve Force Retrieved 2009 04 10 Reyes Danilo Policies arming civilians a product of vigilantism Archived from the original on 2009 03 13 Retrieved 2008 12 27 On the Revival of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units PDF Retrieved 2008 12 27 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit amp oldid 1165091487, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
