Panamanian Public Forces

The Panamanian Public Forces (Spanish: Fuerza Pública de la República de Panamá) are the national security forces of Panama. Panama is the second country in Latin America (the other being Costa Rica) to permanently abolish standing armies, leaving it with only small para-military forces. This came as a result of a US invasion that overthrew a military dictatorship which ruled the country from 1968 to 1989. The final military dictator, Manuel Noriega, had been belligerent toward the USA culminating in the killing of a US Marine Lieutenant and US invasion ordered by President, George H. W. Bush. Panama maintains forces, consisting of armed Police and Security forces, and small air and maritime forces. They are tasked with law enforcement, and can perform limited military actions.

The National Police
Panama's first army was formed in 1903, when the commander of a brigade of the Colombian army defected to the pro-independence side during Panama's fight for independence. His brigade became the Panamanian army.

In 1904, the army tried to overthrow the government, but failed. The United States persuaded Panama that a standing army could threaten the security of the Panama Canal Zone. Instead, the country set up a "National Police." For 48 years, this was the only armed force in Panama.

However, starting in the late 1930s, the National Police attracted several new recruits who had attended military academies in other Latin American countries. Combined with increased spending on the police, this began a process of militarization. The process sped up under José Remón, who became the Police's commandant (commanding officer) in 1947. He himself had graduated from Mexico's military academy. He began promoting fewer enlisted men to officer rank, giving the police a more military character.

The National Guard
After playing a role in overthrowing two presidents, Remón resigned his commission and became president himself in 1952. His first act was to reorganize the National Police along military lines with a new name, the National Guard. The new grouping retained police functions as well. With a new name came increased American funding.

In 1968, the Guard overthrew President Arnulfo Arias in a coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Omar Torrijos and Major Boris Martínez. They completed the process of converting the Guard into a full-fledged army. In the process, they promoted themselves to full colonels. Torrijos thrust Martínez aside in 1969, promoted himself to brigadier general, and was de facto ruler of the country until his death in a 1981 plane crash. (See Panamanian Air Force FAP-205 crash)

The Panamanian Defense Forces
After Torrijos death, and two successive commanders with lesser political influence, the position was eventually assumed by Manuel Noriega, who merged all of Panama's armed forces under his command as the Panamanian Defense Forces. He built the PDF into a structured force, and further consolidated the dictatorship. Under Noriega, the PDF was a more tool of repression and political control than a force dedicated to national defense and law enforcement.

Having set up an strong intelligence department called G-2, and several loyal military unit, like the 7th Inf. Co. "Machos de Monte" (Mountain Machos, a guerrilla warfare unit named after a sort of aggressive wild boar), the 1st Public Order Co. "Dobermen" (a brutal riot police force), the UESAT (Unidades Especiales de Servicio Anti Terror, an Israeli trained counter terrorism strike force) he was able to survive various attempted coups. Curiously the "Doberman" Co. was replaced by the no less brutal 2nd Public Order Co. "Centurions" after the formers key role in the last coup attempt against Noriega.

Due to the political turmoil of the late 80´s, he formed the civilian paramilitary Dignity Battalions composed by regular sympatizers and the CODEPADI, a similar group formed by civil servants inside public institutions, both intended to bolster up forces to be used in political repression and in case of foreign military action.

As stated before the PDF main role as a tool for political control of the population by force over the legitimate role of national defense, was proved when they showed to be largely ineffective as a combat force during Operation Just Cause, when U.S. Forces invaded Panama and overthrew Noriega in 1989.

Panamanian Public Forces
On February 10, 1990 the government of then President Guillermo Endara abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces. In October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the establishment of a special temporary military to counter acts of "external aggression." The PDF was replaced with the Panamanian Public Forces.

The PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, Judicial and Technical Police (PTJ) for investigatory activities, and an armed Institutional Protection Service or SPI which consist mainly on the Presidential Guard. The PPF is also capable of performing limited military duties.

In contrast to the former PDF, the Panamanian Public Forces is on public record and under control of the executive.

In 2007 the Judicial and Technical Police (PTJ) was split into the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ), which was merged back into the National Police, and a group of minor technical services that were to remain under the General Attorney's control. In November 2008, the Servicio Aéreo Nacional (National Air Service) merged with its maritime counterpart, the Servicio Maritimo Nacional (National Maritime Service) to become the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (National Aeronaval Service), also the new Servicio Nacional de Fronteras (National Borders Service) was created as an independent force from the National Police.

The New Ministry
In February 2010, the new administration led by President Ricardo Martinelli has proposed the creation of a new Ministry of Security, that will replace the Ministry of Government and Justice to be divided in two new Ministries (Public Security and Government), which shall be placed under the National Police, National Naval Air Service, Immigration Service and National Borders Service.

Immigration, Customs and Passport
In 2012, The National Customs Authority, the National Immigration Service (SNM) and the National Passport, following advice from the government of the United States of America would merge and form other security sectors autonomous or entity of the Republic of Panama, the Government Executive issued Decree 871 of November 14, 2012 that creates an interagency commission to first take care of structuration, coordination and technical process for the merger of the first customs and immigration agencies to subsequently merge passports. Is published in the Official Gazette 27165 of 16 November 2012 as the first step towards that goal.

Organisation
As of 2012, the National Police Force's maneuver units comprised:
 * One presidential guard battalion (under-strength)
 * One military police battalion
 * Eight paramilitary companies
 * 18 police companies

The IISS also noted that there were reports of a special forces unit having been formed. At this time, the National Police Force had a total strength of 11,000 personnel and was equipped only with small arms.

Maritime forces
As at 2012, the patrol boats operated by the Panamanian Public Forces included:
 * One Balsam class PCO
 * Three Chiriqui class patrol boats
 * Two Panama class patrol boats
 * Two Panquiaco class patrol boats
 * Five Point class cutters (Tres De Noviembre class)
 * Escudo de Veraguas
 * Flamenco
 * Naos
 * Negrita
 * Nombre de Dios
 * Taboga