Brawner: U.S. support won’t come right away — PH must defend itself first

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES: The Philippines must be ready to stand on its own in the early stages of any conflict before expecting help from allies, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen Romeo Brawner Jr emphasised on Tuesday (Nov 5).

Speaking at the opening of the ninth Armed Forces Joint Exercise Dagat-Langit-Lupa (AJEX-DAGITPA) in Camp Aguinaldo, Brawner underscored the importance of self-reliance, readiness, and modernisation as the country faces growing regional security challenges. “In the event of war on our soil, our ally and our partners are expecting us to fight the war ourselves during the first part of the conflict,” Brawner said. “That’s why our unilateral defence plan and this exercise we’re doing are so important.”

Training for the real world

Brawner explained that AJEX-DAGITPA is not just another military drill. It is a “strategic rehearsal” designed to test the AFP’s capabilities under real-world scenarios, aligning with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept (CADC) and the territorial defence plan known as Bantay Kalayaan. According to him, the exercise will train the Philippines to respond to modern threats—cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and incursions into the country’s territory. “We really need to stay one step ahead,” he said

The AFP’s updated unilateral defence plan, he added, expands the country’s readiness beyond traditional warfare to include the cyber, information, electromagnetic, and even space domains.

“We are already at war”

The AFP chief warned that the Philippines is already engaged in a different kind of war—one fought not with bombs and bullets, but through disinformation, intimidation, and persistent intrusions into its maritime zones. “We are already at war,” he said. “We are not at war with bullets and bombs but with disinformation, with coercion and with encroachment into our territories, into our exclusive economic zone.”

As part of the ongoing AJEX-DAGITPA, some exercises will be held on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea—a move that reinforces the Philippines’ presence and claims in the disputed waters.

 Allies can help—but self-reliance comes first

While reaffirming the country’s strong ties with allies, particularly through the Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT) with the United States, Brawner stressed that the Philippines must be able to hold the line until reinforcements arrive. “We are expecting that if trouble erupts, we’ll be the first to do the fighting, but then, we are expecting also reinforcements or help from our ally, and this is under the Mutual Defence Treaty,” he said.

Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, the AFP aims to sustain defensive operations and preserve its fighting capability for at least 20 to 30 days in case of open conflict.

Modernising amid challenges

Despite significant progress in recent years, Brawner acknowledged that the AFP still faces resource limitations. “We still lack ships, aircraft, sensors, and firing capabilities,” he admitted. “That is why our Armed Forces modernisation programme is very vital as well in order for us to prepare for any eventuality that can happen in the future.”

This year’s AJEX-DAGITPA, which includes participation from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police, continues to grow in scale and complexity—reflecting the evolving nature of modern warfare and the military’s determination to keep pace. “Through this exercise, we demonstrate that the AFP never yields,” Brawner declared. “We will adapt, we will anticipate, and we will act decisively to defend our country and our people.”