Cafgu era ends in Southern Tagalog
LUCENA CITY—The military in southern Tagalog has officially phased out the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) and integrated its members into the newly established National Guard, marking the end of decades-old paramilitary structure.
In a report released on Friday, the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2nd ID) said the transition did not remove the Cafgu Active Auxiliaries (CAAs) but instead elevated their status and role under the Total Force concept, where regular troops, reservists and auxiliaries operate as a unified force to enhance mission effectiveness.
The National Guard was formally launched during a donning-of-ranks and patch ceremony led by Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, 2nd ID commander, at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, on Thursday.
Transformation
Marking a historic shift in its auxiliary force, the 2nd ID said the launch of the National Guard signaled the end of the Cafgu era.
The report did not specify how many Cafgu members were absorbed into the new force.
The Cafgu was established on July 25, 1987, through Executive Order No. 264, later supported by Republic Act No. 7077, to help the military maintain peace and order in rural areas through trained and armed civilian auxiliaries.
According to the 2nd ID, the restructuring underscored the transformation of former Cafgu personnel into a more professional, disciplined, and community-centered force.
The shift is part of the Army’s broader modernization effort to improve territorial defense, disaster response and local security operations under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Operations framework, the division explained.
Zagala noted the importance of empowering citizen-soldiers as partners in strengthening community resilience and national preparedness.
“To our newly appointed National Guard members, the rank and badge you received today symbolize the trust and responsibility entrusted to you. They reflect your growth, your dedication and your new role in strengthening the Total Force,” Zagala said in Filipino.
The Army’s 2nd ID covers Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.
