Marcos holds command conference with Navy

MANILA, Philippines — Days after keynoting a regional defense and security summit in Singapore, President Marcos met yesterday with the Navy’s top brass for an update on the implementation of a program to enhance military capability to protect the country’s territory and exclusive economic zone.

At the second quarter command conference of the Navy at its headquarters in Manila, the President was apprised of the implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), an initiative of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Present at the meeting were Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, Navy chief Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr., Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño and other senior defense and military officials, according to a statement from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

“The primary objective of the command conference was to apprise the commander-in-chief on the Philippine Navy’s strategic role, as part of the AFP joint force, in the CADC,” the PCO said.

In his report to Marcos, Adaci outlined the current status and future plans of the Navy, and stressed the importance of modernization and capability enhancement to the total archipelagic defense.

He said modernization would help the Navy fulfill its crucial role in securing the state and enhancing maritime cooperation toward regional peace and stability.

“The Philippine Navy remains steadfast in its duty to defend our nation’s interests, safeguard our waters, and protect our people. While we face formidable challenges, our commitment to accomplishing the mission remains unwavering,” Adaci was quoted by the PCO as saying. “The Philippine Navy will continue to fight until our nation realizes genuine freedom and security in our waters. As you have said, Sir, ‘Filipinos do not yield,’” he said.

Marcos has committed continued support for the ongoing modernization efforts of the Navy and other branches of the AFP.

He highlighted the critical role of the navy in maintaining national security and underscored the need for continuous improvement of defense capabilities to address evolving security challenges.

The Navy command conference underscored the importance of strategic planning and leadership engagement at the highest level to ensure that the country’s defense strategies are aligned, robust, and responsive to the needs of the country, the PCO said.

During a Q&A segment at the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Marcos highlighted the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to boost its military capability to defend itself against any act of aggression from another country.

Asked by a Filipino delegate about his vision for the country’s military by the end of his term, Marcos said his government is in the process of finding suppliers for its AFP modernization program dubbed “Horizon 3.”

“We are hoping that these acts are just a deterrence to work for peace. It has been going on for many years now – this long term plan of increasing the capabilities of our military and civilians such as the Coast Guard in the Philippines,” Marcos said.

At the flag-raising ceremony earlier yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo, AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura called on officers and soldiers to continue solemnly perform their duties and responsibilities as part of “the equation of success” in the stability and security of the region.

“It is our responsibility to uphold and be truthful to our mandate. We believe that as we celebrate our independence, we can look straight into the eye of our fellow Filipinos and say that the AFP upholds our country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights against those who will try to trample and challenge the idealism of our people,” Cordura said. — Daphne Galvez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago