AFP CORE OF VALUES

1. The AFP Core of Values

a. HONOR
The members of the AFP believe in honor as the important virtue that a soldier must
possess. It is in fact considered as more precious than life itself. Without honor, a man is nothing
but a beast. Honor means truthfulness, sincerity, honesty, credibility. Honor means integrity, a
modest but decent life. An honorable soldier does not lie, chea, steal, violate moral and ethical
codes codes not tolerate the violation of the code of honor is the sacred part of the character of a
soldier, violation of which should bring home.

b. LOYALTY
The members of the AFP believe in unflinching loyalty. Thus shall promote the national
interest and security as a paramount concern. We shall support and defend the constitution. We
shall be obedient to the duly constituted government. We shall obey the order of those legally
appointed over us. We shall support those who lead us and those who serve with us.

c. VALOR
We believe in valor as the power and strength, courage and ability to overcome fear,
which enables the soldiers to carry out their mission and to accomplish what is seemingly
impossible. It is more than bravery or ability to ensure pain. Valor is calmness and presence of
mind in the heat of battle where dancer or death is imminent. It is the courage to stand for what is
right and the perseverance to make it difficult for others to do wrong.

d. DUTY
Despite difficulty and danger, we perform our tasks as order or implied. Disciple and
obedience, we believe that duty is a personal act of responsibility, which we show by doing all
our assigned tasks to the best of our ability.

e. SOLIDARITY
Solidarity is the value that binds us with the rest of our comrades-in-arms. It is the value
that makes us one strong and united organization.
2. MILITARY CULTURE, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS AND CORE
PHILOSOPHIES

a. The AFP Organization

The AFP organization proves that the AFP should be organized in such manner that it can
function effectively to accomplish its mission with minimum cost and maximum senior field
grade officers who have no significant assignments or if only to generate funds which will be
divested for personal use of the proponents at the expense of the government. The creation of
CAFGU Active auxiliary, the bantay-bayan and the civilian volunteer organization, not to
mention the development of our reserved units in all 13 regions of the country are some
organization reforms embodied in the AFP Organization.

b. Supremacy of Civilian Authority

Supremacy of the civilian authority emphasizes the legal and moral obligation of the
soldier as an ordinary citizen of the republic to obey the laws, carryout directives and subscribe
to regulations enacted and issued by the legislative judicial and executive branches of the civil
government.

c. Chain of the Command

Chain of the command desks on the generally accepted principles that a military action
being executed should pass the approval or consent of the commander at each other level or
echelon of command from lowest to highest without bypassing any approving authority or taking
the action upon one’s self as his prerogative.

d. Military Leadership

Military Leadership summarizes the significant role of a military leader or commander to

influence his men to carry out its mission, perform assigned tasks or fulfill its obligation and
functions.

e. People’s Support

People’s support is a statement of the knowledgement by the AFP of the vital importance
of people’s support to achieve peace and order. To get people’s support, the members of the AFP
should exercise prudence and justice when dealing with the civilians. The soldiers should respect
and protect the rights of the people, their beliefs, and ways of life and living conditions.

f. National Development
 The AFP must be the catalyst of change, reform and development. It must actively
participate in endeavors that will contribute to national progress.
.
g. Partisan Politics

The members of the AFP shall not engage in partisan politics. Its involvement shall be
limited only to the exercises of his right to vote the candidates of his choices and to assist in
ensuring a clean and honest politics.

h. Democracy

The AFP adheres to the principles of democracy. It believes that the Philippine
Government is the embodiment of the Filipino people’s will and was established to protect their
rights and to fulfill the aspirations as a nation.

i. National Interest

The AFP realizes that the protection of national interest is for the common good of the
people. In the accomplishment the mission given to AFP is shall keep in mind that national
interests are of paramount concern and must be enhanced and protected.

j. Peace

The AFP believes that program and development can only be attained if there is stability,
peace and order.

k. WAR

The AFP believes that war or the use of force against the enemy of state shall be restored
to only when all the peaceful means shall have failed and no other option is left to resolve the
conflict.

l. USE OF ARMED FORCE

When implementing government policies pertaining to security, the AFP must act with
restraint as far as use of force is concerned. When the use of arms is necessary, it must have the
authority of the duly established government.

m. SOCIAL JUSTICE
 The members of the AFP shall be instrumental in the promotion of social justice. It shall
subscribe to the generally accepted principle that all men area created equal and every citizen
must be given the same rights and opportunities in life and equal protection from the
government.

n. HUMAN RIGHTS

The members of the AFP shall respect the inherent rights of an individual as a “human
being”. In the performance of its mission, the troops must see to it that the lives and properties of
non-combatants and innocent civilians are well protected.

o. ENEMIES OF THE STATE

The AFP shall consider the following as enemies of the state:

1. Those that shall violate the sovereignty of the Philippines such as foreign aggression
whose intention is to occupy and control the national territory or part thereof.
2. Those that resort to violence as a means to achieve their ends such as CPP/NPS/Guerillas.
3. Those who shall not accept the supremacy of civilian authority over the military, such as
the coup plotters and participants.
4. Those that shall dismember the country or any part thereof, such as the Moro National
Liberation Font (MILF) and other secessionist groups.
5. Those that shall engage in organized crimes, such as gambling syndicates, drug pushers,
gun runners, hired killers.
6. Those that shall organize the populace for the purpose of alienating their allegiance from
the state such as the National Democratic Front and the sectored organizations under its
umbrella.

p. PROFESSIONALISM

Military Professionalism is the heart and soul of the whole AFP code of ethics. It
emphasized that being public servants, we in the AFP area are expected to perform our duties
and responsibilities with utmost competence and efficiency. Our right to bear arms as one of the
peculiarities of the military service calls for assurance to the people that their safety, protection
and welfare shall be our paramount concern.

The people expects AFP to perform its tasks as mandated by the constitution with the
highest degree or excellence by applying expertly the basic and specialized skills of soldiery
while adhering strictly with the code of ethics and all laws and statues of the land.

q. STANDARDS
 1. Standard of Loyalty

All military personnel shall be loyal and true to the Republic of the Philippines,
the constitution, the AFP and to the people. We are loyal to the republic when we serve its
interest and protect its territorial integrity against the enemy, even if it shall cost our lives.

2. Standard of Competence

All military must be competent in the performance of his duties. By competence

means the ability or capability to do what is expected of him to do and to do it well.

3. Standard of Ethics

Every soldier must conform to the accepted principles of right conduct, being
observed in the society which he is a part, from being a soldier, and he is also a citizen of the
community, because the military community is only a part of a larger society--- the “Filipino
Society”.

4. Standard of Morals

The soldier must be aware that he has the capacity to distinguish between what is
right and what is wrong. To be moral is to do the right things and to avoid the wrong ones.

r. UNPROFESSIONAL ACTS

These behaviors that fall short of the professional standards as enumerated in the AFP
code of ethics are considered unprofessional acts.

1. Acts of Disloyalty

We are disloyal when we do something or refuse to do something that constitutes

betrayal of our country and people, non-support to our duty constituted government and
disregard to the AFP chain of command. Some disloyal acts are cowardice in the face of
the enemy, desertion or abandonment of post, AWOL, insubordination, disrespect to
superior, bypassing the chain of command.

2. Acts of Incompetence
 We are incompetent when we lack the required knowledge, skills, physical
attributes and character traits necessary for the adequate performance of duty and
accomplishment of mission.

3. Unethical Acts

Unethical acts are deviations from the established and accepted ethical and moral
standards of behavior and performance laid down in the AFP code of ethics. Some of these
unethical acts are using government time for outside employment, sideline, position of authority,
unwarranted assertion or rank tolerating irregularities in the military services, etc.

4. Corrupt Acts

Corrupt acts are crimes against public interest, public morals, property, chastity,
civil status of person and honor. We are corrupt when we are dishonest, unjust and commit moral
acts.