Camp Aguinaldo - History

History

Camp Aguinaldo was established on January 11, 1935. Initially known as Camp Murphy, that includes Zablan Field, in honor of the first American high commissioner Frank Murphy, it was renamed Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in 1965, after the Philippines’ first President.

The camp covers a total land area of 178.78 hectares. Of these, 152.52 hectares were purchased by the government and the remaining 26.26 hectares were donated by Ortigas and Co. Partnership Ltd.

The Philippine Constabulary General Service Battalion was the first to use the camp in January 1935.

In December of that year, the National Defense Act paved the way for the formation of the Philippine Army. It also designated the Philippine Constabulary as the Army Constabulary Division, which maintains its peacekeeping mission under the DND.

In June 1938, the Army Constabulary Division was separated from the Philippine Army and was reformed to become the National Police Force under the Department of Interior.

After World War II, Camp Murphy was divided into two camps - Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo. While the Zablan field's former Japanese runways forms the roads of White Plains Avenue and a portion of Katipunan Avenue, just in front of White Plains subdivisions.