Philippine defence chief seeks brigade-sized Army force and stronger Marine presence on Palawan

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, have called for a stronger and sustained military presence on Palawan, the western province that faces the South China Sea. Teodoro said the government is working towards at least a brigade-sized Philippine Army presence on the island and a sustainable growth plan for the Philippine Marine Corps there.

GMA News reported on Wednesday, 7 October, that the two officials visited the Western Command (WESCOM) at Camp General Artemio Ricarte in Puerto Princesa City on Tuesday, where they met personnel and discussed the command's operational requirements and defence posture.

Teodoro described Palawan as the country's last frontier and said the aim was to make sure it stays that way. He told WESCOM personnel that the province's operating environment is unlike others and demands creativity and innovation as well as discipline and resolve.

A tri-service footprint

The defence secretary said it was important to establish a significant tri-service presence in Palawan to support territorial defence, internal security operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and deterrence against unlawful activities.

He singled out the Marine Corps, saying it needs mobility to keep its firepower and operational effectiveness, particularly along Palawan's eastern seaboard, where GMA News quoted him as saying there is currently no significant military presence. Teodoro also said community support for government forces must be matched by better security and tangible benefits that contribute to sustainable development, the Daily Tribune reported.

Nafarrete stressed the need for sustained presence, operational readiness and stronger capabilities on the country's western frontiers to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity. The AFP said the visit reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening WESCOM and supporting its personnel.

Brigade plan still awaiting approval

The brigade proposal was first made public on 22 September by the Army's commanding general, Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, who said the service was preparing to deploy an infantry brigade to Palawan in support of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept. A brigade numbers roughly 1,500 to 2,000 troops, or about three battalions, and only a single Army battalion is currently deployed to secure the province, the Philippine News Agency reported at the time.

Gumiran said then that the plan was still at the planning stage and was being coordinated with the Air Force, the Navy and the WESCOM commander. He gave no timetable and did not name the unit to be sent, and said deploying Army troops directly to Philippine-held features in the Kalayaan Island Group was not part of the current arrangement. The Army had submitted its plans to the Department of National Defense for approval and was also considering additional missile systems and more mechanised and artillery assets.

The Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, introduced by Teodoro in 2024, shifts the military's emphasis from internal security towards territorial and external defence of the whole archipelago, including the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and its sea lanes.

WESCOM, headquartered in Puerto Princesa, is responsible for the Philippines' maritime territory in the West Philippine Sea, including the Philippine-held islands and Second Thomas Shoal, where troops are stationed aboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.