The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported continued security gains and sustained maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea during its first semester 2026 command conference with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military briefed the President on its accomplishments for the first half of the year and presented its plans moving forward.
On internal security, Brawner said the AFP highlighted progress in reducing the number of New People’s Army fighters, local terrorist group members, firearms, and the influence of armed groups in communities.
On external defense, Brawner said the AFP discussed the current security situation in the West Philippine Sea and the continued maritime operations of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and other government agencies.
“Re-report po namin sa ating Pangulo na tuloy-tuloy pa rin po yung ginagawa nating maritime operations among the Navy, the Coast Guard, and the BFAR, including other agencies,” Brawner said.
He said the AFP also reported its continuing joint activities with the United States and other like-minded partner nations.
Brawner said multilateral maritime cooperative activities and joint exercises are ongoing throughout the year, stressing that the country’s military engagements are not limited to the annual Balikatan exercises.
“Our joint exercises are continuously going on throughout the year. Hindi lang po Balikatan ang exercise natin. Marami tayong mas maliliit na exercises. And we also have international exercises,” he said.
The command conference also came as the country marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea and rejected China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
Brawner said the AFP began its commemoration with simultaneous flag-raising ceremonies by the Department of National Defense, the AFP, and military units nationwide.
He said the military wants to emphasize that the Philippines remains proud of the arbitral victory and continues to uphold it amid China’s actions in the region.
“A lot of other countries are looking at us and the way we react to the continuous bullying or what we call ICAD — illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive tactics — of our big neighbor China,” Brawner said.
After the briefing, Brawner said Marcos directed the AFP to sustain its internal security gains and continue strengthening external defense operations.
He said the military is also focusing on countering United Front work and foreign malign operations linked to China as part of its broader external security efforts.
Brawner said Marcos congratulated the AFP for its accomplishments in internal security, external defense, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
“He has given us the guidance. And he also congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines for all the gains that we have had in ISO, ESO, and also in humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” Brawner said.