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Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr., September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

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CA confirms Teodoro Appointment

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176240573751520230913-teodoro-gibo-dnd-confirmation-MD-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Defense Secretary Gilberto &quot;Gibo&quot; Teodoro Jr., September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday backed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.’s statement that the military should be able to<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/4/brawner-in-case-of-war-ph-must-defend-itself-for-30-days-before-ally-partners-step-in-1437"> hold out for 30 days in case of a war</a>—a goal he described as part of the “normal evolution” of the country’s defense posture.Brawner on Tuesday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive was for the AFP to sustain unilateral defense operations for 20 to 30 days in case of conflict, before expecting help from its treaty ally, the United States, and other partner nations.Speaking to reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Teodoro said the 20- to 30-day holdout target reflected the need for a more resilient and self-reliant military.He noted that unlike its neighbors, the Philippines was still adjusting to a defensive mindset that had long been ingrained in other nations’ national security doctrines.“Ang problema sa atin, matagal tayong hindi gumagawa ng ginagawa ng ibang bansa. Ang ibang mga bansa, sanay ang defensive posture nila. Ang pinakamaliit na bansa sa ASEAN—Singapore—normal sa kanila iyan. Ngayon na kailangang iakyat natin ang defensive at deterrent posture natin, nababahala ang tao, nagpapanic ang tao kasi wala sa DNA natin yung ganung klaseng paghahanda,” Teodoro said.“Ang ating preparations at paghahanda, normal lang na evolution. Katulad ng statement ni Gen. Brawner, part ng doktrina iyan ng resilience, at ang normal supply chain natin ay ganoon katagal, kaya sinasanay natin ang sarili natin na nag-iimbak tayo ng stores. Normal iyan eh, hindi lang natin ginagawa noong araw,” he added.Teodoro said that such preparations were not acts of provocation, but steps in ensuring deterrence and readiness.“Iniiwasan natin ang conflict sa deterrence, sa paghahanda,” he said. “Porket hindi ginagawa noong araw, hindi tama na hindi natin gawin ngayon.”Teodoro’s statements came following the courtesy visit of General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Department of War, at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday.Teodoro and Caine discussed the progress of the Philippines-US defense alliance and explored ways to further operationalize bilateral strategic defense objectives. Among the topics covered were strengthening multilateral cooperation with regional partners, expanding cooperation and information sharing to deepen interoperability between the AFP and US Armed Forces, and enhancing humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) efforts in view of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/6/marcos-oks-declaration-state-of-national-calamity-over-tino-upcoming-typhoon-1012">typhoon Tino.</a><div><iframe width="734" height="413" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WWqxWBD5YWM" title="In case of war, PH must be ready to defend itself for 30 days before allies step in - Brawner" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday backed AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.’s statement that the military should be able to hold out for 30 days in case of a war—a goal he described as part of the “normal evolution” of the country’s defense posture.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday backed AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.’s statement that the military should be able to hold out for 30 days in case of a war—a goal he described as part of the “normal evolution” of the country’s defense posture.

‘Normal evolution’: Teodoro defends AFP’s 30-day war readiness plan

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‘Normal evolution’: Teodoro defends AFP’s 30-day war readiness plan

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 06, 2025 01:14 PM PHT

Read More:

unilateral defense

Armed Forces of the Philippines

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

30 days war

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