Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is being carefully carried out to address evolving security challenges.
In a forum following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Teodoro said the AFP modernization is a pillar of the country’s independent foreign policy.
“Ito ay isang poste ng independent foreign policy sapagkat walang bansa sa mundo na may independent foreign policy na walang malakas na sandatahan. Kasi ang kapayapaan, ang indipendensiya, hindi iyan libre – pinaglalabanan iyan or pinaghahandaan upang walang tangkang guluhin ito,” Teodoro said on Wednesday.
“Pakay din po natin ay bigyan ng mas malaking espasyo ang ating Pangulo sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag na deterrence para makaandar ang diplomasya at ang ating iba’t ibang security agencies,” Teodoro said.
In his SONA on Monday, President Marcos said that both the AFP and Philippine National Police are receiving more armaments and vessels, in line with the goal to modernize the two agencies and create a “comprehensive” defense of the archipelago.
Teodoro said acquisitions are being made carefully, as some weapons planned by past administrations in the last 15 years may now be obsolete as threats have evolved.
Presently, the DND and AFP are preparing for the construction of more bases that would house recently-acquired weapons systems and guard the country’s two-million-square-kilometer maritime domain, including the side facing the Pacific Ocean, Teodoro said.
Plans are afoot to strengthen operational security of military installations and increase the number of personnel, while upgrades of systems to defend against asymmetric and hybrid threats such as cyber-attacks, are underway, Teodoro said.
AFP chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that under President Marcos’ leadership, the Navy received new frigates, two corvettes, and several smaller vessels to patrol the country’s vast waters, especially the West Philippine Sea. | PND
