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Tactical Operations Group Sanga-Sanga

The mission of Tactical Operations Group Sanga-Sanga is to plan, control and coordinate the employment of air power in the islands of Tawi-Tawi province. Its specific functions include: determining tactical air requirements in its area of responsibility; exercising operational control/supervision over all Air Force units deployed/attached threat; conducting tactical air operations within its area of responsibility; performing forward air control missions; performing airfield operations and service support functions; performing Civil Military Operations (CMO) within its AOR; and performing other functions as directed by Division Commander, 3rd Air Division. The Headquarters of Tactical Operations Group Sanga-Sanga is situated on the island of Sanga-Sanga, which forms part of Bongao municipality, the capital of Tawi-Tawi province. The area of responsibility, however, comprises the whole province, and the Group has Units stationed in the island municipalities of Mapun and Sibutu.

In 1973, 3 Units of the Philippine Air Force were activated in Tawi-Tawi: Task Force Sanga-Sanga, Task Force Sibutu and Task Force Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi. Their missions were to secure airstrips in their respective areas for air transportations and perform functions as part of to the declaration of Martial Law.

Air Force personnel assigned to these units were authorized to conduct patrolling on land and sea against piracy and other forms of criminality. Operationally, the squadron Commanders reported their activities to SOUTHCOM, but the administrative responsibilities remained with the 3rd Air Division, PAF. This authority remained with the Commanders of these units until the lifting of martial law in 1981.

The units were redesignated various times, from Composite Tactical Squadrons to Detachments in 1987, with operational control transferred from 3rd Air Division to 530th Air Base Wing, pursuant to General Orders Number 196, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 1 September 1987. In 1989, the operational and administrative control of the squadrons was again transferred from the 530th Air Base Wing to the 531st Air Base Squadron, pursuant to General Orders Number 171, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 21 July 1989. The units were reorganized as satellite Air Base Squadrons on 16 April 1990 and returned to the control of the 530th Air Base Wing, pursuant to General Orders Number 105, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 25 April 1990.

On 1 April 1998, the 3 squadrons were placed under the command and control of Composite Air Support Force 9, in Jolo, Sulu, and the personnel of these units were relieved and reassigned respectively to the aforementioned unit pursuant to General Orders Number 14, Headquarters, 3rd Air Division, dated 1 April 1998. On 15 October 1998, the 3 units were again redesignated from satellite Air Base Squadrons to Composite Tactical Squadrons, pursuant to General Orders Number 426, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 15 October 1998.

On 1 February 1999, Composite Tactical Group 13 (Provisional) was organized with its Headquarters stationed at Sanga-Sanga, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi and placed under the command and control of the Wing Commander, 530th Composite Tactical Wing. The command and control of the 3 units were transferred from Composite Tactical Group 9 to Composite Tactical Group 13 (Provisional). On 1 September 1999, CTG 13 (Provisional) was inactivated and the 3 CTS were placed under the command and control of the 530th Composite Tactical Wing. On 1 February 2001, these units were redesignated as Tactical Operations Squadrons (TOS) pursuant to General Orders Number 32, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 31 January 2001.

Effective on 4 November 2002, Tactical Operations Group (TOG) Sanga-Sanga was organized as a provisional unit and placed under the command and control of the 3rd Tactical Operations Wing. TOS Sanga-Sanga was inactivated and 5133rd Air Base Squadron was activated. TOS Sibutu, TOS Mapun and 5133rd Air Base Squadron were placed under the command and control of TOG Sanga-Sanga, pursuant to sections I, III and IV, General Orders Number 428, Headquarters, Philippine Air Force, dated 25 November 2002.

The Group transformed all 3 stations into well-developed Air Force Bases in this southernmost frontier of the archipelago. Base beautification was conducted. The security and defense posture were also greatly enhanced. Facilities for immediate deployment of air support elements were developed. Community services and relations were initiated. The perennial billeting problem of enlisted personnel was solved with the construction of a liaison building at Edwin Andrews Air Base, Zamboanga City, and construction of enlisted barracks at the 3 stations. More projects were envisioned to further develop and enhance the unit's capabilities towards efficient and successful accomplishment of its assigned mission.

In 2007, the 3rd Tactical Operations Wing was inactivated as part of a larger PAF reorganization that saw the Tactical Operations Command inactivated. The 3rd Air Division was subsequently reactivated and TOG Sanga-Sanga was placed under the command of this unit.