Type Military Base | Materials Concrete,Steel | |
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Garrison AFP Western Mindanao Command1st Infantry (TABAK) Division2nd Scout Ranger Battalion1st Light Reaction BattalionNaval Forces Western Mindanao Controlled by | ||
Camp General Basilio Navarro serves as the main operating base of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the Southwest Philippines, and is the Headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM).
Contents
History
Camp Navarro has hosted the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) of the AFP for decades. In 2005, news came that SOUTHCOM was to be moved to Pagadian City, which was met with wide protest by Zamboanga residents. This eventually led to a review of the AFP's organization.
By August 2006, then AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon announced that the Southern Command of the AFP will be divided into the Western Mindanao Command and the Eastern Mindanao Command (EASTMINCOM). WESTMINCOM's joint service headquarters was to be located in Camp Navarro, while EASTMINCOM in Camp Panacan in Davao City.
Camp Navarro also plays an important role in the on-going war on terrorism in the Philippines, and has hosted the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines (JSOTF-P). The camp was also the venue of a number of BALIKATAN Philippines - U.S. military joint exercises.
Description
Camp Navarro is located in Calarian district of Zamboanga City. West of the base is the Zamboanga Golf and Country Club. Camp Navarro is also 2 km west of the Philippine Air Force's Edwin Andrews Air Base.
Camp Navarro is adjacent to the Philippine Navy's Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, which is the headquarters of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
Current facilities on base are: