Territorial defense and the continued modernization of the military will be among the core focus of the incoming officer in charge of the Department of National Defense (DND).
Protecting and ensuring that not an inch of the Philippine territory will be dismembered will be among the key priorities of retired General Jose Faustino Jr., the military’s former chief of staff.
Faustino had been earlier named by incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. as senior undersecretary of the DND and the agency’s officer in charge.
His announced appointment had been welcomed by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Faustino’s former boss as an Army commander and commanding general and later as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“National security is synonymous to human security. That is why we will do our best that all programs of the department will focus on protecting and defending the sovereignty of the country,” Faustino said Sunday night.
The retired AFP general said he would also ensure the implementation of Marcos’s order that “not a single square inch of the territory is surrendered.”
“While we are protecting our territory, as instructed by the President, we will continue to engage our regional neighbors,” he said.
The incoming OIC of the DND said he would ensure that the agency and the military would “respect human rights and international humanitarian law,” and address the root causes of internal conflict.
“We will, likewise, continuously support the successful programs of the peace agreement with the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] and MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front],” Faustino said.
Since its funding has long been enacted into a law, Faustino said he would ensure the smooth sailing and implementation of Horizon 3, the third and last phase of the military’s modernization program.
“We are now on the third horizon of the AFP modernization—building a more reliable and credible AFP in strengthening territorial or external defense capability. We will ensure the smooth implementation of the AFP modernization and will even enhance our capability in defending our territory,” he said.
Aside from territorial defense and capability upgrade, the DND would also pursue other programs and projects and will work with other agencies of the government.
“The department will also cater to our major concerns and security challenges, such as climate change and natural disasters, terrorism, support to law enforcement to address criminality and illegal drugs, cyber security, and of course continue the momentum of the campaign in ending the local communist armed conflict,” he said.
The retired general said he would constantly align the DND’s programs with the vision of Marcos of a stronger and “better Philippines” through nation building, economic recovery, “and most of all, national unity.”