Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday underscored the vital role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Strategic Command in building a robust deterrence posture to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity and maritime domain.
Speaking at Clark Air Base during the first anniversary celebration of the AFP Strategic Command, Teodoro emphasized the need to consolidate national security gains, expand military presence across the Philippine archipelago, and establish a credible, sustainable defense posture under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC).
Teodoro, alongside Strategic Command Commander Lt. Gen. Thad Rufino P. Candelario, led the conferment of awards to outstanding personnel, military units and strategic partners recognized for their contributions to organizational capacity-building and operational development.
Activated in 2025, the AFP Strategic Command consolidates intelligence, operational planning, and civil-military operations into a unified framework. It also oversees joint military exercises and multilateral activities with partner nations.
This integrated command structure is designed to optimize domain awareness, streamline decision-making processes, and improve interoperability among various service branches to proactively address evolving security threats.