History
On May 17, 1942, the 3rd Military Area (3MA), the original unit of the present-day Central Command, was organized and activated as a wartime military unit under the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) to provide an effective defense against the Japanese invaders. The 3MA provided command and control to all allied forces including Filipino scouts and guerillas in the Visayas and Mindanao region. Its headquarters then was at Camp Guadalupe in what is now Barangay Guadalupe. After the war, the 3MA was transferred to its present location in Camp Lapu-Lapu in what was then the Lahug District of Cebu City. The foundation of the present Barangay Apas and the subsequent evolution of neighboring barangays into highly urbanized areas took their roots from the establishment of Camp Lapu-Lapu. From being the 3MA Headquarters, the place metamorphosed into several military headquarters after the Second World War. It was the Battalion Combat Team in the 1950s and then later as CEMCOM that covered the Mindanao military operation during the Muslim rebellion in the 1970s. Later, the place became home of the 3rd Brigade Separate with former President Fidel V Ramos then as a Philippine Army general, serving as one of its commanders prior to his stint as a PC Chief. Subsequently, the area became home to the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippine Army in 1975. Further reorganization of the AFP in the late 80s, transferred the 3ID to Jamindan, Capiz, and the subsequent creation of the Regional Unified Command (RUC). The RUC later merged with other regional commands to form the Visayas Command (VISCOM). VISCOM was organized as an operating unit of the AFP to control Internal Security Operation (ISO) in the Visayas, which then became the forefather of the present-day Central Command (CENTCOM), AFP.Lineage of Commanders
* BGen. Jesus R. Hermosa, AFP – ''(29 March 1988 – 14 December 1988)'' * BGen. Rolando Q. Antonio, AFP – ''(14 December 1988 – 8 July 1989)'' * BGen. Renato V. Palma, AFP – ''(8 July 1989 – 28 January 1990)'' * MGen. Romeo R. Zulueta, AFP – ''(28 January 1990 – 26 December 1992)'' * MGen. Thelmo Y. Cunanan, AFP – ''(26 December 1992 – 24 August 1993)'' * MGen. Romulo F. Yap, AFP – ''(24 August 1993 – 12 April 1994)'' * MGen. Ruperto A. Ambil, AFP – ''(12 April 1994 – 8 August 1995)'' * MGen. Renato M. Garcia, AFP – ''(8 August 1995 – 26 June 1997)'' * MGen. Jose C. Lapus, AFP – ''(26 June 1997 – 1 June 1998)'' * MGen. Victor A. Mayo, AFP – ''(29 July 1998 – 11 April 1999)'' * MGen. Victor U. Garcia, AFP – ''(9 June 1998 – 21 July 1998)'' * MGen. Victor U. Garcia, AFP – ''(5 May 1999 – 27 October 1999)'' * MGen. Santos B. Gabison Jr., AFP – ''(27 October 1999 – 23 May 2000)'' * MGen. Julius L. Javier, AFP – ''(23 May 2000 – 12 August 2000)'' * MGen. Jaime S. De Los Santos, AFP – ''(23 May 2000 – 23 October 2000)'' * RAdm. Napoleon C. Baylon, AFP – ''(23 October 2000 – 3 March 2001)'' * MGen. Julius L. Javier, AFP – ''(3 March 2001 – 17 July 2001)'' * LtGen. Dionisio R. Santiago, AFP – ''(17 July 2001 – 13 April 2002)'' * LtGen. Jacinto C. Ligot, AFP – ''(13 April 2002 – 17 August 2004)'' * LtGen. Emmanuel R. Teodosio, AFP – ''(17 August 2004 – 21 January 2006)'' * LtGen. Samuel B. Bagasin, AFP – ''(21 January 2006 – 2 August 2006)'' * LtGen.Organization
The following are the units that are under the Visayas Command. * 3rd Infantry Division, PA * 8th Infantry Division, PA * Tactical Operations Wing Central, PAF * Naval Forces Central, PN * 53rd Engineer Brigade, PA * 4th CEISG, CEISSAFP * 3rd Civil Relations Group, CRSAFP * Military Intelligence Groups (6,7, and 8), ISAFPOperations
* Anti-guerrilla operations against theReferences