Marcos vows to equip AFP vs cybersecurity threats

MOREWEAPONS NEEDED Tanks join a military parade in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday vowed that his administration would equip the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with sufficient tools and training against cybersecurity threats.

Speaking at the 89th anniversary celebration of the AFP, Marcos stressed that the threats the country is facing nowadays do not limit to shores or to the traditional battlefield, but online as well.

“They are now complex, multifaceted, and, at times, invisible,” he said in his speech.

READ: Marcos aims to make PH military a ‘world-class force’

“The geopolitical developments and tensions continue to test our sovereignty and our resolve. The surge in cybersecurity threats, if unchallenged and unaddressed, will challenge our national security,” he added.

He also noted that misinformation and disinformation threaten the democracy that the government has fought so hard to protect.

“As we commemorate your accomplishments, we must also look forward to the future that awaits. The modern age demands that we meet these evolving challenges head-on. It calls for an AFP that is grounded in an understanding of its role in a rapidly changing world,” Marcos said.

“To enhance our capabilities and preparedness, we are harnessing the latest technologies, reinforcing our strategies, and enhancing the skills of every soldier, every sailor, and every airman. This ensures that we are ready to succeed in the battles on the field [and] in cyberspace, for the peace of mind of our people,” he also said.

“After all, we are building an AFP that can hold its own on the global stage—one that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world’s finest armed forces,” he added.