THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would fortify national cyber defense by recruiting more experts in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the initiative is part of the AFP’s modernization efforts.
“A modern AFP is comparable to a smartphone; the hardware itself is not enough; it must be equipped with the latest applications. We are not only increasing manpower but expertise as well,” Padilla said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Modern warfare, Padilla added, is no longer limited to traditional battlefields, noting cyber operations are becoming increasingly important in national defense.
“Modern warfare is far from the conventional ground battle we are familiar with. We are now in cyberspace where laboratories and command centers are crucial factors. And so, talent, in this case, is a force multiplier,” Padilla said, noting cyber operations professionals will complement soldiers on the front lines by providing innovations and intelligence information that can serve as force multipliers.
“So, this initiative reflects our commitment to build a future-ready AFP where excellence, innovation and service to the country go hand in hand,” Padilla said.
The Department of National Defense (DND) has previously announced the national cyber defense policy.
The AFP is now crafting the implementing guidelines for the initiative.
This will be followed by the recruitment process, which will be announced through DND and the AFP’s major service branches.
The modernization, Padilla said, is anchored on the “modern defense requires modern minds” principle of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
