DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr said the defense and military establishments have identified “several gaps” that are now being addressed to enable the country to defend itself from external threats.
Teodoro made the remarks yesterday during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day that marked the surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines, and the National Celebration of Philippine-American Friendship in Baguio City.
“In my own remit with General Brawner, we have found several gaps that we have to modify in order to build our spine or backbone of any country worth being called a country,” said Teodoro.
He was referring to Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who was among those who graced the ceremony. Also present was US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson.
Teodoro said the Armed Forces works in collaboration with other instruments of national power “to deter any other from destroying the sanctity of our territory, our people, our freedoms, and our rights.
“There is no such thing as parity dealings with other countries, particularly if there is a controversy, if you do not have a strong Armed Force to back up diplomacy,” said Teodoro.
Teodoro said the Marcos administration has been working double time “to do what should have been done every day since 80 years ago.
“We cannot blame those who came before us because even after liberation, we were beset by internal conflicts. We have since hopefully settled these,” added Teodoro.
He said the administration is working to become a “resilient country” that values international order, which he said “guarantees our freedoms and our liberties today.”
The Armed Forces is in the middle of implementing a modernization program that calls for the acquisition of modern equipment, including warships and fighter aircraft.
Teodoro took a swipe at China for its call for a fairer world order during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus Meeting last Monday.
“The other day alone, in the Shanghai Cooperative Organization conference, we have seen a stated claim and aim of China to change the international order into an ostensibly fairer one,” said Teodoro.
“Let us examine. Here is a country that wants a fairer international order. But when you examine, is their society fair? Is their society free? The answer is obvious. No. So fair for these countries is a euphemism for advancing their agenda and interests, which are contrary to our stated interests,” said Teodoro.
China has become aggressive in its claims over the West Philippine Sea, with the Chinese harassing Philippine government vessels and aircraft and even Filipino fishing boats in the past years.
He said the Philippines and the US, along with other allied countries, “must not be complacent internally or externally in an increasingly volatile world.”
“We have to preserve the gains that were earned through the sacrifice of blood on both sides,” said Teodoro, referring to Filipino and American forces who died during World War II.
“If we do not learn from the lessons of the past and think as much as we want that the world is a static place, if we do not have resolve, purpose, and unity in action in all facets of public and private life, even with individual behavior and discipline, then we have no business honoring those who have shed their blood. We have no business honoring our distinguished veterans here,” said Teodoro.
