AFP Southern Command
| AFP Southern Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1976–2006 |
| Disbanded | August 6, 2006 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Allegiance | Philippines Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Type | Unified Command |
| Role | Anti-Terrorism Anti-Dissidents |
| Size | 49,000 |
| Part of | Department of National Defense Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Basilio Navarro, Zamboanga City |
| Nickname(s) | SouthCom |
| Equipment | M113 Armored Personnel Carriers FV101 Scorpion Light Tanks |
| Engagements | All-Out War against MILF(Operation Restore Fragile Peace) Siege of Lamitan |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Rear Admiral Romulo Espaldon Major General Delfin Castro |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | OV10 Bronco |
| Fighter | F5 Freedom S211 Amaechi |
| Helicopter | Bell 512 Bell 514 |
| Attack helicopter | MG-525 Defender Attack Helicopters AH-S70 Spirit Attack Gunship Helicopters |
| Cargo helicopter | C130 Hercules |
| Multirole helicopter | UH-1H Huey Helicopters Bell 412 |
| Utility helicopter | UH-1H Huey Helicopters |
| Patrol | C130 Hercules |
AFP Southern Command (SouthCom) is a defunct unified command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was the largest command under AFP during its existence. It covers entire island of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, Celebes Sea, Sulu Sea, and Southern part of Philippine Sea. It gained highlight during the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping incidents and the all-out war against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
It is responsible for the defense of these areas against external aggression, as well as combating terrorism and insurgency. It is also one of the government organizations advocating the "Culture of Peace" in Mindanao.
This command was dealing with Moro conflict in late 1960s until mid 1990s with Moro National Liberational Front which are focused in Sulu Archipelago. A separate members of MNLF who were not in favor of the Tripoli Tripartite pact which launched another Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 1979 which are more located in Southern part of mainland Mindanao. Aside from moro secessional movements, southern command is also dealing with Communist Rebellion with CPP-NPA who are controlling the hinterlands in Northeastern. In order to deal with different front the government decided to split the command in order to focus solely on single front.
On August 6, 2006, Southern Command was split into two separate commands Western Mindanao Command and Eastern Mindanao Command and it was disbanded.