PH improving defense capabilities, not only relying on allies: Palace
Philippine News Agency
By Darryl John Esguerra
March 5, 2025, 1:06 pm
MANILA -- Malacañang on Wednesday reaffirmed the government's focus on enhancing the Philippines' self-reliant defense capabilities.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, during a press briefing, stressed that the country must be prepared to defend itself, regardless of its alliances.
This follows reports of the United States (US) cutting its military assistance to Ukraine.
The US remains the Philippines' strongest and oldest military ally.
"May ally tayo o wala tayong ally, kailangan din po nating i-prepare iyong sarili natin (Whether we have allies or not, we also need to prepare ourselves," Castro said.
"Iyong AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] modernization ay talagang kailangan po natin iyan para hindi naman tayo masyadong umaasa sa ating mga allies (We really need the AFP modernization so that we don't rely too much on our allies)," she added.
The AFP Modernization Program has three Horizons. Horizon 1 was scheduled from 2013 to 2017; Horizon 2 was from 2018 to 2022 and Horizon 3, from 2023 to 2028.
However, the Horizon 3 acquisition list was overhauled into Re-Horizon 3, which was approved in January 2024, and slated to last for 10 years. (PNA)
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