By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday received updates from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on its operational accomplishments, strategic priorities, and campaign plans during the military’s 1st Semester Calendar Year 2026 AFP Command Conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
As commander-in-chief, President Marcos Jr. was briefed on the progress of the AFP’s campaign plan and its ongoing operations aimed at achieving what the military described as a “resilient and secure archipelago” through coordinated national efforts.
The meeting came two weeks ahead of the retirement of AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
Gen. Brawner Jr., the first military chief to complete a fixed three-year term under Republic Act 11939, or the Act Further Strengthening Professionalism and Promoting the Continuity of Policies and Modernization Initiatives in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, is scheduled to officially retire on July 21, 2026.
Malacañang earlier said the President has yet to choose Brawner’s successor but said the commander-in-chief is looking for a “trustworthy, patriotic, God-fearing and hardworking” military officer who prioritizes the welfare of the nation.
During Tuesday’s meeting, AFP officials also presented the military’s accomplishments over the past year and outlined key priorities, capability development initiatives, and operational objectives moving forward.
The command conference serves as the AFP’s regular “campaign review,” where military leaders report to the President the implementation of the armed forces’ campaign plan, assess operational gains and discuss strategies to address evolving internal and external security challenges.
Aside from Brawner, the conference was attended by senior AFP commanders from across the country, along with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
The government has been pursuing the modernization of the AFP through sustained investments in military assets, enhanced interoperability with allies, and expanded territorial defense operations amid evolving security challenges in the region.
Drills with like-minded nations to continue
Brawner, in a press conference after the meeting, underscored the military’s commitment to defend the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and stressed that maritime operations in the vital area will continue.
“On external security operations, we also discussed the situation that we are facing now in the WPS—from our northern territory down to our western hemisphere,” he said, citing the maritime operations being done with the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), among others.
Brawner said they also reported to the Chief Executive the joint activities that the AFP is conducting with the United States and other like-minded nations, with local and foreign military exercises to continue throughout the year.
And with the observance of the 10th year anniversary of the Arbitral Award this July 12, Brawner emphasized that the military is really proud of what it has accomplished.
The Arbitral Award effectively dismissed and invalidated China’s “Nine-Dash-Line” claims in the South China Sea.
“And in fact, a lot of other countries are looking at us and the way we react to the continuous bullying or we call it ICAD—illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive tactics—of our big neighbor China,” he said.
Brawner said the President told them to continue their operations to sustain their gains in the internal and external security operations along with humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions
“And one area that we are looking into is addressing the United Front Works and the foreign malign operations of China also. That is also in line with our external security operations,” he added.
In the same briefing, Sec. Teodoro said the President gave them a directive to be “steadfast in our external defense operations.”
He clarified, however, that there are limits to “resorting to legal strategies” because “diplomacy without deterrence will result in accommodation and appeasement.”
“That’s what we do not want right now,” he added. (With a report from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
