AFP’s main challenges: Preserving, protecting Philippines territory, sovereignty

MANILA, Philippines — Without specifically mentioning the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the country’s current problems with China in the area, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said preserving and protecting Philippine territory and sovereignty tops the military’s main challenges for 2024.

In his message during the traditional New Year’s call in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, he said the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should remain united in accomplishing the goal.

Teodoro said the mission is “to preserve and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines; maintain peace and order; work together with allies to make, not only the Philippines, but this region – the Indo-Pacific Region – and the world a better place to be in.”

He issued the statements amid China’s increasing presence and aggressiveness in the WPS marked by harassment and water cannon attacks on Philippine vessels inside the country’s exclusive economic zone in 2023.

Teodoro, during the event, said transforming the whole defense department, with its civilian bureaus and the AFP, will continue into the new year.

“We thank the whole defense family for the cooperation that they have shown last year in the midst of our attempts to transform our organization into a new defense organization with new skills, new paradigms and new capabilities,” he said.

“We shall continue that effort this year and we hope that we have the same unconditional cooperation from each and every one of you,” he added.

Teodoro said he is grateful that the DND and AFP have the unconditional support of the commander-in-chief, President Marcos, and encouraged members of the defense establishment to stay united.

“We shall be blessed because we are one, we are united and we cannot be divided because we have a mission,” Teodoro, who has been very vocal in countering and denouncing China’s aggressive actions in Philippine territorial waters, said.

For his part, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that for 2024, the military organization will focus on the development of materiel and capabilities through its modernization program, adding that the