Gibo: PH to speed up military buildup, alliances amid WPS threats

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippines will continue accelerating its military modernization and deepening security partnerships with like-minded nations as it strengthens its deterrence posture against growing threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. said on Monday.

Speaking in Cebu City after the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling, Teodoro said the Marcos administration had sustained efforts to rapidly upgrade the country’s defense capabilities while expanding cooperation with international partners that share the Philippines’ interest in keeping the South China Sea free and open.

Asked how the government intends to strengthen the country’s security posture during the remaining years of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, Teodoro pointed to two parallel priorities: modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and reinforcing strategic alliances.

“Napapansin ninyo, walang humpay ang dalawang bagay na nangyayari. Number one is speeding up ang modernization natin,” Teodoro said.

(You’ve probably noticed that two things continue without letup. First, we’re speeding up our modernization.)

READ: Archival defends WPS event absence, says Manila trip secured Cebu funds

He stressed that modernization goes beyond acquiring new weapons and military equipment.

“Ang importante sa modernization, hindi lang ang kagamitan, kundi ang kasanayan at ang mga babahayan nito, ang mga strategic bases natin. Foundational ‘yan. Useless ang kagamitan kung hindi natin kaya patakbuhin.”

(The important thing in modernization is not just the equipment, but also the skills of our personnel and the strategic bases that support them. Those are foundational. Equipment is useless if we cannot operate it.)

Strengthening partnerships

Alongside military modernization, Teodoro said the Philippines continues to strengthen defense and security ties with countries that share concerns over developments in the South China Sea.

READ: Chinese consul warns Cebu’s WPS stand may hurt China ties

“Pinag-iigting pa natin ang partnerships so fast with like-minded nations because this is an international fight,” he said.

(We continue to rapidly strengthen our partnerships with like-minded nations because this is an international fight.)

He said countries beyond Asia recognize that stability in the South China Sea directly affects global trade and international security.

“Cebu, which is in the center of the Philippines, finds common cause with India, France, and other European countries whose supply routes through the South China Sea are threatened, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada,” Teodoro said.

READ: Marcos urged to issue executive order declaring July 12 WPS ‘victory day’

He added that the Department of National Defense has continued institutionalizing resilience measures despite the demanding pace of the reforms.

“Hindi namin tinatigil ang pace… with which we are institutionalizing these resilience measures.” (We are not slowing down the pace with which we are institutionalizing these resilience measures.)

Maritime victory beyond the arbitral ruling

Teodoro also backed proposals to institutionalize July 12 as a national observance commemorating the Philippines’ victory in the landmark arbitral case against China.

While he said Congress may consider declaring the occasion a holiday, he suggested broadening its scope beyond the legal victory.

“Pwede siyang gawing holiday pero sana i-scope sa mas malawakang bagay,” he said. (It can be declared a holiday, but I hope it covers something broader.)

He proposed naming it Maritime Victory Day to reflect the country’s broader maritime interests.

“Of course, victory ito, legal victory. We should put that front and center. But it should have a wider scope… that it is a Maritime Victory Day so that it is inclusive for the whole maritime interest of the Philippines,” Teodoro said.

He emphasized that the 2016 arbitral award remains only one step in the country’s continuing effort to protect its sovereign rights.

“This legal victory is very important, but it is only one step of the several steps we need to take at the soonest possible time,” he said.

Cebu’s stand

Teodoro visited Cebu City Hall for the city’s observance of the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling, days after the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu protested the City Council’s resolution declaring July 12 as “West Philippine Sea Victory Day.”

Earlier, he praised Cebu City officials for standing by the resolution despite the diplomatic protest.

“Nakakataba ng puso na Cebu stood up in the face of a direct, I’d say, provocation by foreign officials here, and they stood their ground. That’s admirable,” he said.

(It is heartening that Cebu stood up in the face of what I would call a direct provocation by foreign officials here, and they stood their ground. That’s admirable.)

Teodoro also warned that failing to defend the country’s maritime rights could have consequences beyond the West Philippine Sea.

“Hindi lang West Philippine Sea ang importante. Kapag hindi natin ipinaglaban ang West Philippine Sea, baka may mawala pa. Baka ang susunod na kuwestyunin ay ang archipelagic doctrine,” he said.

(The West Philippine Sea is not the only issue that matters. If we fail to defend it, we may lose even more. The next thing that may be questioned is the country’s archipelagic doctrine.)

The controversy erupted after the Chinese Consulate formally protested the Cebu City Council resolution authored by Councilor Paul Labra, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award and urges Congress to institutionalize July 12 as a nationwide West Philippine Sea Victory Day.

China continues to reject the ruling as “illegal, null and void,” while the Philippine government maintains that the award remains final and legally binding under international law.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.