Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (VCSAFP) is the second highest military officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As principal assistant of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he or she assists in administrative matters and in their operational duties, as well as in policy conceptualization and implementation matters in the AFP, while Chief of Staff focus on military operations and the country's security. The Vice-Chief of Staff also assists the AFP Chief of Staff in their absence and presides the meeting on the AFP Chief of Staff's behalf. The Vice-Chief of Staff holds a rank of 3-star officer as Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral (O-9) and is appointed by the President of the Philippines who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

The 48th and incumbent Vice-Chief of Staff is Lieutenant General Arthur Cordura, who assumed the post on November 22, 2022.

Background
The position of Vice-Chief of Staff can be traced prior the Philippine–American War in 1899 were in General Ambrosio Flores was selected as Assistant Chief of Operations under General Antonio Luna. He took command in acting capacity upon his death in June 1899 until General Aguinaldo took over the command of revolutionary army personally until the end of the war on March 23, 1901, upon the capture of Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela.

Under the Commonwealth Act No. 1 or also known as National Defense Act of 1935 the position again was created to assist the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Commonwealth Army. Which led to the creation of three major services in the following years Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Marine Corps. While there were officers from the Philippine Constabulary that became Vice-Chief of Staff, the service has been dissolved and transition to civilian law enforcement service Philippine National Police (PNP). In 1982 Major General Fidel V. Ramos was appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff and concurrent Chief of the Philippine Constabulary and Director General of the Integrated National Police. He was later appointed Chief of Staff after EDSA revolution.

On June 19, 2020, under the DND Order no. 174, the title of Vice-Chief of Staff was renamed as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, while the Chief of Staff as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and The Deputy Chief of Staff as Chief of the Joint Staff. Although the usage of these titles were deferred.

Organization and term limit
Under the AFP Hierarchy, the Vice-Chief of Staff holds a rank of 3-star general officer rank, either Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral. The Vice-Chief of Staff of the AFP is nominated by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the AFP Board of Generals and will also be required to be subject to hearings under the Commission on Appointments for them to be formally approved in their positions. The Vice-Chief of Staff has no fixed term and is subject to mandatory retirement upon reaching the age of 57 under the Republic Act No. 11939 and is also eligible to be appointed as the AFP Chief of Staff, unless appointed by the president.

Officeholders
This is the list of officers who were appointed as Vice-Chief of Staff or Acting Capacity. In all 9 came from Philippine Constabulary before it was deactivated, 29 from the Philippine Army, 2 from Philippine Marine Corps, 6 from the Philippine Air Force, and 6 from the Philippine Navy.