Camille Naredo

The Commission on Appointments confirms the selection of Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense in Pasay City on September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

The Commission on Appointments confirms the selection of Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense in Pasay City on September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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CA confirms Teodoro Appointment

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174816781099020230913-teodoro-gibo-dnd-confirmation-MD-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Commission on Appointments confirms the selection of Gilberto &quot;Gibo&quot; Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense in Pasay City on September 13, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Commission on Appointments confirms the selection of Gilberto &quot;Gibo&quot; Teodoro Jr. as secretary of the Department of National Defense in Pasay City on September 13, 2023. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — A deal that will allow the Philippine and Canadian armed forces to enter, train and operate in each other’s territories is “ready for signing already,” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on Sunday. </p><p>“With Canada, it’s ready for signing already,” Teodoro told reporters in a chance interview. </p><p>The Defense chief did not give an exact date on when it will be signed but noted that the deal will be inked “pretty soon.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/23/-it-is-ours-national-maritime-council-says-no-need-to-raise-ph-flag-on-sandy-cay-1514"><strong>&#x27;It is ours&#x27;: National Maritime Council says no need to raise PH flag on Sandy Cay </strong></a> </div><p>Once finalized, the deal will be the fifth of its kind for the Philippines after Manila signed a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Washington, a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with Australia and New Zealand. </p><p>The Philippines is also “negotiating one with France,” the Defense chief said, but added that he “cannot give a date” on when Manila and Paris can finalize its agreement. </p><p>The Philippines — under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration — has been diversifying its military agreements with other nations that seek to uphold the rule of law amid China’s illegal activities in the South China Sea. </p><p>Aside from military interoperability agreements, Manila has also been securing deals from its allies to modernize its military assets, including the procurement of more modern sea vessels and the installation of more monitoring equipment in shores facing the West Philippine Sea. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/24/tv-patrol-barko-ng-bfar-napinsala-sa-pambobomba-ng-tubig-ng-china-coast-guard-1842"><strong>TV PATROL: Barko ng BFAR napinsala sa pambobomba ng tubig ng China Coast Guard</strong></a></div>

<p>A deal that will allow the Philippine and Canadian armed forces to enter, train and operate in each other’s territories is “ready for signing already,” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on Sunday.</p>

A deal that will allow the Philippine and Canadian armed forces to enter, train and operate in each other’s territories is “ready for signing already,” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said on Sunday.

PH-Canada’s VFA-like military agreement ‘ready for signing’: Teodoro

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PH-Canada’s VFA-like military agreement ‘ready for signing’: Teodoro

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2025 06:14 PM PHT

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Gilbert Teodoro

Canada

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