Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. expressed openness to realigning portions of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget to the DND to address the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) funding needs amid growing external security threats.

“Sino ba naman ang ayaw ma-realign? Pero one-off lang ‘yun, hindi year-to-year (Who wouldn’t want a realignment? But that should be a one-time thing, not something done every year),” Teodoro said during the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) luncheon meeting in Makati City on Thursday, Oct. 23.

He emphasized that while more defense funding is necessary, infrastructure development remains vital to national resilience. Roads and bridges, he noted, are crucial for both defense logistics and disaster response.

“Kailangan din pondohan ang DPWH kasi importante ang kalsada, importante ang tulay, lalong lalo na ang dekalidad na kalsada at tulay na kayang buhatin ang kagamitan na kailangan natin, hindi lang sa AFP alak sa disaster risk reduction (The DPWH also needs funding because roads and bridges are important, especially high-quality ones that can carry the equipment needed not only for the AFP but also for disaster risk reduction),” he said.

Teodoro cited the recent collapse of a section of the Davao-Butuan road after heavy rains weakened the mountainside as proof of infrastructure vulnerability. “Ito ay dahil kinain ng ulan ang ilalim ng bundok, gumuho ang side ng bundok. Ito major artery, at kailangan ito maayos o kung hindi ay i-relocate ang kalye depende sa study (This happened because rain eroded the mountain’s base, causing the slope to collapse. This major artery must be repaired or relocated depending on the study),” he explained.

The defense chief also reiterated his call to recover and properly allocate misused or stolen government funds. “Gusto natin ang nakamkam na, ninakaw alaki ay isoli sa taumbayan para magastos ng tama. Pero hindi lang ito ang solusyon kasi taon-taon kailangan gumastos tayo ng alaki para sa depensa, lalo na ngayon na napakalaki ng hamon na hinaharap natin dahil sa kabulastugan na ginagawa ng Tsina (We want stolen public funds returned to the people for proper use. But that alone is not enough, because every year we must spend heavily on defense, especially with the serious challenges posed by China’s provocations),” he said.

Meanwhile, Teodoro also reacted to Beijing’s reference to the Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc as an “island,” saying the terminology could signal possible reclamation.

“Kasi tinatawag nila ‘yung Scarborough na island, Huangyan Dao yata ang tawag nila dyan. Eh shoal ‘yun, hindi island ‘yun. Ano ang ibig sabihin, gagawa sila ng isla? Kaya talagang hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ‘yang mga ‘yan (Because they call Scarborough an island, I think they call it Huangyan Dao. But that’s a shoal, not an island. What does that mean? Are they planning to build one? That’s why those people can’t be trusted),” he said.

Teodoro said the Philippines is intensifying both its deterrence and legal efforts to uphold its rights under international law. “Mas puspusan ang ating deterrence at mas puspusan ang ating legal initiatives laban sa kanila (We are intensifying our deterrence and legal initiatives against them),” he said, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling that declared the Scarborough Shoal a shared artisanal fishing ground among the Philippines, Vietnam, and China.

Further, Teodoro also addressed the AFP’s plan to impose pension sanctions on retired officers urging active troops to revolt, warning that such actions threaten democracy and the rule of law.

“Siguro eksaminin natin ang motibo dahil kapag nanghihikayat ka ng Sandatahang Lakas na mag-aklas sa gobyerno, ginugusto mo ang military na magpatakbo ng gobyerno. At the end of the day, wala ng batas at ang rule of law ay nawawala (Perhaps we should examine the motive, because if you encourage the Armed Forces to revolt, you are asking the military to run the government. At the end of the day, there will be no law and the rule of law will disappear),” he said.

He warned that any extraconstitutional move would only benefit hostile powers. “Kung magkaroon ng extra-constitutional na galaw, hindi ka kikilalanin, ifi-freeze ang accounts mo, hindi ka maaaring makipagnegosyo, hindi ka puwedeng mag-remit. So paano ka mabubuhay? Ang bubuhay lang sa iyo ay kokonting bansa, isa na ang Tsina, kaya nga sanctioned sila eh (If there is an extra-constitutional move, you won’t be recognized, your accounts will be frozen, you can’t trade or remit money. How will you survive? Only a few countries will support you, including China, which is why they are sanctioned),” he noted.

“At the end of the day, any extra-constitutional move means kung sino pinakamalakas ang firepower, siya mamumuno (whoever has the strongest firepower will rule). Iyan ay labag sa ating kagustuhan na maging malaya (That goes against our desire to remain free). Be careful for what you pray for, you might just get it,” he added.