Marcos affirms commitment to national defensePresident Marcos attends the 129th founding anniversary of the Philip- pine Army at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The administration’s commitment to national security remains “firm,” President Marcos said yesterday, as he vowed to continue modernizing the military and to enhance the Philippine Army’s role in external defense. “Our commitment to national defense remains firm,” Marcos said. “We are strengthening the Philippine Army’s role in external defense through the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept. This concept enables the Army to perform external security operations while gradually transitioning its internal security operations,” he added.

Source: Philippine Star March 19, 2026 16:32 UTC