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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No more new military contracts with Israel, says DND chief

No more new military contracts with Israel, says DND chief

Published Sep 16, 2025 09:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro said Tuesday, Sept. 16, that the Philippines doesn't plan entering into new pacts with Israel, even as some House lawmakers urged the government to withdraw its military deals with the Middle Eastern country amid its continuous bombardment of Gaza.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro said Tuesday, Sept. 16, that the Philippines doesn't plan entering into new pacts with Israel, even as some House lawmakers urged the government to withdraw its military deals with the Middle Eastern country amid its continuous bombardment of Gaza.
Teodoro said it was a “lesson learned” for him that the government could no longer withdraw from its ongoing contract with Israel. This was due to the lack of specialization of those on the Philippine side in terms of entering into agreements.
His gave these remarks during the House Committee on Appropriations’ budget hearing on the DND, wherein Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co questioned the agency’s move last August to award a contract to Israeli defense tech company, Elbit Systems Land Ltd., for the procurement of howitzer ammunition.
This happened despite Teodoro's earlier claim that there were no more agreements with the Israeli weapons dealer amid what the lady lawmaker described as its ongoing “genocide” of the Palestinian people.
Indeed, there were no new contracts, Teodoro maintained. He said the award to procure P248-million, 100 rounds of high explosive 155mm precision guided-munition (PGM) from Israel was part of the existing contract the Philippine government entered into in the past.
“It’s just the continuing of past contracts,” Teodoro said.
“Hindi po [bumili] ng bagong systems, kundi kagamitan para sa existing systems po nila (We didn’t buy new systems, only equipment for these existing systems)… We have existing systems that we have to continue to use dahil naabutan na po natin. At hindi naman po natin pwede iscrap, so yan ay continuing procurement ng mga munitions na kinakailangan ng mga sistema (because we’ve already been using it, and we cannot just scrap it. It’s a continuing procurement of munitions that the systems needs,” he added.
Teodoro believed it was “wiser” to just stay with the existing system than buy a new one just because of the Gaza conflict. He said a systems change “will require a substantial allocation from the modernization” program of the government.
The defense chief himself expressed concern over the Philippines’ deal with Israel. Teodoro said that aside from thecissues raised by Co pertaining to Gaza, he was also concern about securing supplies with them.
“I myself, won't be comfortable that they will put a contract, that they enter into or the quality of what they supply us, on par with their own needs,” Teodoro said.
“So that alone, I think, makes basic business sense. On that score alone, it will give me room for thought whether or not to award,” he added.
Teodoro said the Israeli equipment, which was only delivered in 2022, was expected to be used for 20 years.
“That's why we are purchasing the ammunition,” he said.
“Nonetheless, I understand the sensitivities of the congresswoman, and I also have my own reservations on supply chain diversification, and I think it's good for us to take this as a working case study on how to diversify our supply chain,” he added.
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