Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2011-12 The Filipino way of war: irregular warfare through the centuries Reyeg, Fernando M. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/10681 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS THE FILIPINO WAY OF WAR: IRREGULAR WARFARE THROUGH THE CENTURIES by Fernando M. Reyeg Ned B. Marsh December 2011 Thesis Advisor: Douglas Borer Second Reader: Hy Rothstein Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704–0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202–4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704–0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 2011 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE The Filipino Way of War: Irregular Warfare through 5. FUNDING NUMBERS the Centuries 6. AUTHOR(S) Fernando M. Reyeg, Ned B. Marsh 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943–5000 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. IRB Protocol number ______N/A______. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) The Filipino Way of War is the dominant irregular warfare strategy executed by the Filipino warrior throughout the centuries. Armed with severely limited resources, a strong fighting spirit, and deep traditions, the Filipino warrior has always had to look for another method of warfare other than direct and total war. This has led to the indirect path, the path of irregular warfare. This tradition, built upon a foundation of tribal warfare, shaped by resistance to Spanish and American colonization, and honed during the guerrilla campaign against the Japanese occupation, has emerged in the modern era as the predominant Filipino military strategy. Entering the 21st century, conflict in the Philippines has not been focused on external invaders, but on internal division. In this era, both government and anti-government forces have recalled their traditions and experiences and predominantly used irregular warfare strategies, often through unconventional warfare, insurgency, or special operations. As external military influences wane, it is important to understand and prepare the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the future by understanding their past history, so that the Filipino warrior will be better prepared for tomorrow. 14. SUBJECT TERMS Philippines, Filipino, Irregular Warfare, Guerrilla Warfare, Strategy 15. NUMBER OF PAGES 193 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT REPORT PAGE ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UU NSN 7540–01–280–5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2–89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239–18 i THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ii Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THE FILIPINO WAY OF WAR: IRREGULAR WARFARE THROUGH THE CENTURIES Fernando M. Reyeg Lieutenant Colonel, Philippine Army B.S., Philippine Military Academy, 1991 Ned B. Marsh Major, United States Army B.A., Providence College, 2000 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DEFENSE ANALYSIS (IRREGULAR WARFARE) from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL December 2011 Authors: Fernando M. Reyeg Ned B. Marsh Approved by: Douglas Borer Thesis Advisor Hy Rothstein Second Reader John Arquilla Chair, Department of Defense Analysis iii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iv ABSTRACT The Filipino Way of War is the dominant irregular warfare strategy executed by the Filipino warrior throughout the centuries. Armed with severely limited resources, a strong fighting spirit, and deep traditions, the Filipino warrior has always had to look for another method of warfare other than direct and total war. This has led to the indirect path, the path of irregular warfare. This tradition, built upon a foundation of tribal warfare, shaped by resistance to Spanish and American colonization, and honed during the guerrilla campaign against the Japanese occupation, has emerged in the modern era as the predominant Filipino military strategy. Entering the 21st century, conflict in the Philippines has not been focused on external invaders, but on internal division. In this era, both government and anti-government forces have recalled their traditions and experiences and predominantly used irregular warfare strategies, often through unconventional warfare, insurgency, or special operations. As external military influences wane, it is important to understand and prepare the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the future by understanding their past history, so that the Filipino warrior will be better prepared for tomorrow. v THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK vi TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1 A. INTROSPECTION ..........................................................................................1 B. IRREGULAR WARFARE STRATEGY ......................................................4 C. THE FILIPINO WAY OF WAR ..................................................................10 II. PRE-COLONIAL FILIPINO WARFARE .............................................................21 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................21 B. ENVIRONMENT / SITUATION .................................................................22 C. ORGANIZATION .........................................................................................23 D. TACTICS / DOCTRINE ...............................................................................24 E. WEAPONS / TECHNOLOGY .....................................................................25 F. ANALYSIS / CONCLUSION .......................................................................27 III. SPANISH COLONIAL ERA WARFARE ..............................................................29 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................29 B. ENVIRONMENT / SITUATION .................................................................31 C. ORGANIZATION .........................................................................................33 D. TACTICS / DOCTRINE ...............................................................................38 E. WEAPONS / TECHNOLOGY .....................................................................40 F. ANALYSIS / CONCLUSION .......................................................................41 IV. AMERICAN COLONIAL ERA WARFARE .........................................................45 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................45 B. ENVIRONMENT / SITUATION .................................................................45 C. ORGANIZATION .........................................................................................49 D. TACTICS / DOCTRINE ...............................................................................52 E. WEAPONS / TECHNOLOGY .....................................................................54 F. ANALYSIS / CONCLUSION .......................................................................55 V. WORLD WAR II, RESISTANCE TO THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION .........59 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................59 B. ENVIRONMENT / SITUATION .................................................................61 C. ORGANIZATION .........................................................................................67 D. TACTICS / DOCTRINE ...............................................................................73 E. WEAPONS / TECHNOLOGY .....................................................................79 F. ANALYSIS / CONCLUSION .......................................................................83 VI. POST INDEPENDENCE ERA WARFARE ...........................................................85 A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................85 B. THE HUKBALAHAP CONFLICT .............................................................87 1. Situation ..............................................................................................87 2. Organization .......................................................................................89 a. Huks .........................................................................................89