AFP activates strategic hub for joint drills, engagement with allies

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday activated its new Strategic Command that will enhance interoperability and joint exercises with other countries. 

In a statement, the AFP said its chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. presided over the activation ceremony at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Major General Fabian Pedregosa of the Philippine Air Force will serve as the acting commander of the AFP Strategic Command.

The AFP Strategic Command will serve as a strategic hub where intelligence, operations, and civil-military functions converge to enable faster decisions and enhanced interoperability, the Philippine military said.

The newly activated command will oversee and synchronize joint exercises and engagements with allies and partners as a support to the AFP’s shift from reactive defense to proactive deterrence, it added.

"This is not merely the activation of a new command; it is the birth of a strategic vision. A vision that looks beyond the horizon of our shores, beyond the challenges of our time,” Brawner said.

Brawner also emphasized the importance of the new command in addressing complex and emerging security challenges, including cyber threats and disinformation.

“AFP Strategic Command ensures that our Armed Forces will always be one step ahead, ready not only to respond but also to prevent, deter, and protect,” he said. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA Integrated News